When someone suffers a brain injury, the focus is often on immediate treatment to save their life. For instance, someone who has bleeding around their brain could suffer cell death if the pressure on the brain becomes too great. Surgery can help to relieve this pressure and reduce the scope of the injury.
But it’s also important to think about the long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). There are many ways that this condition can change a person’s life, perhaps forever. For instance, it could lead to the onset of depression and/or anxiety.
A very serious condition
Depression is a very serious medical condition. It can dramatically change a person’s life, and it can impact what they’re able to do. As noted by researchers who published a paper in the National Library of Medicine: “Depression can limit the ability to return to work, and even worsen cognitive function and contribute to dementia.”
It’s more than being sad or feeling down. It’s a change to the way the brain functions on a fundamental level. For some, this means they lack motivation, and may even stop engaging in things that they once found fun and enjoyable, like their hobbies. For others, it means they struggle to communicate with other people or work with a team. For still others, they may have long stretches of time when they’re virtually unable to care for themselves and/or suffering from harmful thoughts.
Personality changes
Depression is just one of the ways in which a person can change after a brain injury. Family members sometimes note other types of personality changes. Maybe the person is always irritable and combative, rather than kind and accommodating. Maybe they now struggle to remember details that would’ve been easy for them to hold onto before. All of these other changes can simply make their feelings of depression worse because they know what life was like before the injury.
In a situation this serious, those who have been injured may benefit from considering their legal options. They may have the ability to seek financial compensation from any party that was responsible for their harm. Seeking legal guidance can, therefore, potentially be very helpful.
