significant and profound injuries that most likely will last us for the rest of
our lifetimes. However, there are four main categories of the effects of the
brain injury and its very easy to take these abilities for granted but they
involve complex skills and involve many different parts of the brain. However, the more severe
the brain injury is the more pronounced the long-term effects will be and the
individual is most likely to suffer from complex long-term problems that will
affect their relationships, their ability to lead an independent life and also
affect their personality.
Right from Cognitive
effects, to coma and reduced awareness states, to communication problems,
executive dysfunctions, emotional effects, hormonal imbalances, physical
effects, post-traumatic amnesia, behavioural effects and
1) Cognitive Affects – This is the area affecting how a person
‘thinks’ ‘remembers’ and learns; basically all cognitive processes. Cognition
refers to the act of ‘thinking’ or knowing’. So it includes the abilities to
reason, choose, understand, remember and make use of information.
It includes –
Memory, communication, problem solving, decision making, concentration,
attention, controlling impulses, organisational skills and patience.
2) Physical Affects: This is the the area involving how the
‘physical’ body functions.
3) Behavioural Affects: This area of the brain involves how a
person behaves and ‘acts’. The most common emotional response is directly
related to anger and the regulation of emotions. Irritability, lowered
tolerance, agitatio and even impulsivity are also likely to lead to angry
outbursts and are most commonly associated with traumatic brain injuries (TBI),
but are also known to occur with other types/forms of brain injuries.
MANY ways to deal with these behavioural issues, but it can be very difficult
for family members and partners or even friends to cope with. Brain injuries
impact self-awareness and the person may not even a knowledge that they have
trouble with their anger; often blaming other people. In order to gain
sufficient self awareness.
It is very
important to:
·
Gain
structure in one’s life
·
Avoid
impulsivity
·
Do not have
unrealistic self expectations
·
Be extremely
aware of personal thoughts, behaviours and physical states that are associated
with anger, like sweating, raised voice, muscle stifness, etc.
·
It takes MANY
years to learn these coping mechanisms so it also means relearning certain
skills. It is important to maintain a record of triggers, events and associated
levels of angers.
·
BACK-Off,
Calm Down & TRY AGAIN technique! As easy as it sounds, it is important to:
- Remove yourself from a heated situation when there
are early signs of anger - Review the situation, untill you prepare to return
- Move to a safe okace untill you have calmed down
- Talk to other people, upon your return (if
needed)
4) Emotional Affects: This is the area of the brain which deal
with how a person feels after the head injury, and these are absolutely
INVISIBLE! The person may experience rapidly changing moods (emotional
lability) pr they may even respond to situations with inappropriate emotions
such as crying at good news or laughing at bad news. Anxiety and depression are
two common emotional feelings that are caused by damage to the brains emotional
control regions. Many emotions surface such as guilt, anger, sadness,
insecurity, lost confidence, lost independence, etc.
Anxiety: Feeling anxious is quite normal, every NOW and
then. However, if this emotion persists and nags in the form of a constant
feeling of worry or fear, it is classified as a psychiatric disorder and can be
of different types: Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder
(SAD), agoraphobia, panic disorder and oanic attacks, seperation anxiety,
selective mutism and specific phobias. Even obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
and Post-Traumatic stress disorder are closely associated to anxiety disorders
5)
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Known to be one of the mental health
problems, this disorder is a result after experiencing a traumatic event. It is
a flight or fight response reaction taken by the body to protect him/her from
harm. Some of the symptoms include relieving the trauma over and over again 0
especially the physical symptoms such as racing of the heart and sweating
(flashbacks), nightmares, frightening thoughts, etc. It is a severe
psychological reaction to a traumatic event and most commonly occurs after mild
brain injuries.
 |
emotional stability?
is more likely to develop dementia. The worse the injury the greater the risk,
shows a new Swedish study.
Normal
0
false
false
false
EN-US
JA
X-NONE
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:””;
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
