Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can change your life in a lot of different ways, and these changes can be very challenging. Some people lose physical skills, such as the ability to be independently mobile, while other people have cognitive or emotional changes.
On top of that, some reports have noted that people experience personality changes. This can be very difficult for the family members to accept. There may be no way for the injured person to fully heal or change their personality back, but family members can’t help feeling like they’re living with someone they barely even know.
How could this happen?
In some cases, the person just seems fundamentally different. They might have been friendly and bubbly before, but now they are irritable and easily frustrated. Maybe they were very sharp and educated before, but now they struggle to find the right words and they just don’t seem like they’re connecting with you in the same way.
In some instances, multiple symptoms are combined. For instance, a person with a brain injury may be extra sensitive to lights and sound. This can make it difficult for them to be in social situations that other people may find enjoyable. They can become very withdrawn and irritable as a result. The physical changes from the TBI – increased sensitivity, in this example – can alter the rest of their life.
This shows just a little bit of what it’s like to live with a TBI after a serious car accident. If a loved one has suffered a brain injury, or if you have yourself, be sure you know how to seek financial compensation from the party who is responsible.