How Does Traumatic Brain Injury Affect Your Behavior?

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An MRI shows traumatic brain jury effects.
You might wonder how a traumatic brain injury (TBI) will impact your future if you or a loved one have experienced one. For example, TBIs may cause memory loss, recurring headaches, and cognitive problems as long-term side effects. You might also consider the compensation you would be eligible for if you initiated a lawsuit against the party(s) responsible for your accident. However, no matter where you may be in the recovery process following a TBI, it is important to understand that traumatic brain injuries may lead to a myriad of different physical, mental, and emotional changes experienced by both the TBI survivor and their loved ones. However, each TBI case is unique, and any observed behavioral changes will vary from case to case.

Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

Traumatic brain injuries can drastically alter a person’s life. Your life may be forever impacted by your injuries, depending on their severity. If another party is at fault, they should be made liable for your damages and your suffering. You can take action to hold the responsible party accountable with the aid of an experienced North Carolina traumatic brain injury lawyer from Tatum & Atkinson, ‘the Heavy Hitters.’ When you call us for a free consultation, you may find out more about the claims process, the worth of your traumatic brain injury claim, and the measures you can take to demand justice.

Traumatic Brain Injury: Definition

A traumatic brain injury is an injury that occurs when a sudden trauma damages the brain. TBIs may leave a victim permanently disabled or even lead to a fatal injury. Car accidents are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. TBI can happen when the head strikes something suddenly and violently or when something pierces the skull and enters the brain. Depending on how much brain damage has occurred, TBI symptoms can range from mild to severe.

Traumatic Brain Injury Warning Signs

Many people who experience a TBI are unaware that they have done so. However, victims should be aware of some indications of a TBI. Several of these signs include:

  • Confusion, as well as memory and focus issues
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Issues with sleep
  • Alterations in hearing or eyesight
  • Mood shifts (especially depression)
  • Aggression or a change in personality

Traumatic Brain Injuries Compensation

You might be entitled to compensation for your losses and injuries if you have been diagnosed with a brain injury due to head trauma from a vehicle accident, a slip and fall, or another accident due to the negligence of another. Your injuries’ seriousness and how much they affect your life will determine how much compensation you may be entitled to.

The amount of damages you can anticipate receiving in a traumatic brain injury lawsuit, like any other litigation, depends on a number of variables, including the seriousness of the injury and related medical expenses. In addition, it’s critical to remember that the “degree of fault” of the injured parties in the events leading up to the accident may also affect the ability to receive compensation.

Hire A Reputable Lawyer Now

Cognitive issues brought on by a traumatic brain injury can make it challenging to comprehend the legal system and what actions you should take next. Understandably, with moderate to severe brain injuries, families are often overwhelmed following the accident and may not know what steps to take next. It is not uncommon for those who have suffered a TBI to also have memory problems or trouble focusing on specific tasks. An attorney can assist you in navigating these problems so that you can resume your life as quickly as possible.

How Does Traumatic Brain Injury Affect Daily Life

The extent of a person’s behavioral and emotional changes will depend on whatever area(s) of the brain are affected. For instance, the frontal lobe has a role in controlling impulsivity and personality. There may not be a “braking mechanism” for self-control if it is damaged. A person may appear to have a different personality when a brain injury or concussion causes changes to their emotions and conduct.

The specific location of the brain injury may alter how a person behaves. For instance, the orbitofrontal cortex contributes to empathy and aids in the regulation of impulsive conduct. The person may have trouble empathizing with others and may act more recklessly if this area is harmed. They could appear to have a whole different demeanor to their loved ones.

Additionally, a patient’s emotions and temperament are frequently impacted by a head injury. As a result, they may appear more melancholic, angry, or irritable than usual, leading others to suspect a personality change.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that your loved one’s personality is still present; it is merely concealed by these side effects of the direct brain injury. Therefore, addressing the psychological and behavioral impacts of brain damage can frequently assist in a person’s ability to regain their former state.

Social Difficulties

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for those who have sustained a TBI to experience social difficulty. For example, the inability to control one’s rage or aggression may occur following a brain injury. The injured person might also say offensive things to friends or others without understanding they are offensive. Or perhaps the opposite occurs. It’s possible for someone to lose their personality or appear emotionless. It is known as a “flat affect.

People with TBI can encounter a variety of behavioral and emotional issues, some of which include:

  • Verbal outbursts
  • Violent outbursts
  • Bad judgment
  • Lack of restraint
  • Impulsive actions
  • Negativity
  • Intolerance
  • Apathy
  • Egocentricity
  • Erratic conduct
  • Absence of empathy
  • Lack of initiative or motivation
  • Moodiness or worry
  • Mood changes

As can be seen, there may be a variety of social changes experienced by a TBI victim depending on the location and severity of their injury. It’s upsetting when personality changes occur after a head injury or concussion. However, despite the fact that a TBI survivor might never fully recover from their injuries, you shouldn’t give up. With the brain’s incredible capacity for repair and rewiring, you can still discover practical strategies for controlling undesirable emotions and rediscovering successful interpersonal communication.

Personality Changes

For those who have suffered a moderate or severe TBI, behavioral changes—also known as personality changes—are frequent. These changes frequently take place shortly after a TBI and may evolve over time. The location, severity, and other aspects of an individual’s injury will all have an impact on the kinds of changes they experience and how long they last. Severe TBI patients are more likely to experience long-lasting behavioral abnormalities. The good news is that behavior modifications can improve over time.

Because emotions can be difficult for TBI survivors to control, some individuals refer to these episodes as “mood swings.” A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can alter how people feel or express their emotions because of the harm to the brain. A person could feel as though their emotions are always on a roller coaster, going from joy and exhilaration one minute to sadness the next. Someone else might go through uncontrollable phases of laughing or crying that have nothing to do with how or what is happening around them.

It’s critical for those who have experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families to comprehend that these behavioral and emotional changes are due to the TBI and are not the injured person’s fault. However, if the person with the brain damage is unaware of his differences from how he was before the injury, dealing with these concerns can be even more challenging, especially for family and friends.

Tatum & Atkinson TBI Lawyers Can Help

After suffering a traumatic brain injury, obtaining compensation may seem overwhelming. Do not hesitate to contact a reputable North Carolina traumatic brain injury attorney at Tatum & Atkinson, ‘the Heavy Hitters’, for a free consultation. To schedule your confidential case evaluation right away, call (800) 529-0804 or contact us online.