Brain injuries are scary for everyone. The victims of a brain injury can be confused about what has happened to them, and the resulting strain on friends and family can be devastating. One of the most insidious effects of a brain injury is called “impaired self-awareness,” which can inhibit recovery and make dealing with a brain injury victim a very trying experience.
Brain injury, whether as a result of trauma or a medical issue, can result in a variety of problems that can necessitate drastic lifestyle changes. The Mayo Clinic offers the following list of behavioral and emotional changes that can occur after a brain injury:
- Difficulty with self-control
- Lack of awareness of abilities
- Risky behavior
- Inaccurate self-image
- Difficulty in social situations
- Verbal or physical outbursts
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Lack of empathy for others
- Anger
- Insomnia
- Changes in self-esteem
These changes can be the result of, or accompanied by, an impaired self-awareness. It affects the ability of brain injury victims to recognize their own disability or impairment, or to develop any “power” of controlling it. This can create very difficult situations for family and friends who are trying to help.
Understanding the problem
The three main categories of the impairment are:
- Impaired intellectual awareness. The most severe, this is where an individual cannot understand that a problem exists at all.
- Impaired emergent awareness. The second involvements understanding that a problem exists but being unable to recognize when the problem is actually happening in real time, nor do anything to overcome it.
- Anticipatory impaired awareness. This is the least severe option, which includes recognizing and understanding that a problem exists but being unable to anticipate difficult situations that could trigger the problem again.
Brain injury victims with impaired self-awareness can be combative and difficult; they may think that everyone is conspiring to place them in a treatment facility. They may blame others for the problems they are encountering, and may not respond well to initial therapy. There are therapeutic models to help increase an individual’s self-awareness, but a professional must administer these programs.
The inability of a victim to understand how his or her brain has been affected and what that means for his or her actions and behaviors is a large factor in recovering from a brain injury. This can be especially frustrating for friends and family, too, whose entire way of thinking about the victim must change and adapt to the seemingly new person who lives with them. It is important to know that your feelings are normal, common, and perfectly healthy. With the right therapies, much patience and lots of love, you can all find a way to navigate the murky waters of a TBI.
For more information about your options after your loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, please contact The Rocky McElhaney Law Firm. Our skilled brain injury lawyers will answer your questions and help you move forward on the path to recovery. We are proud to serve clients in and around Nashville, Knoxville and Gallatin.
