Following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), one of the hardest parts for survivors and their families to understand and accept is a personality change. Prior to the injury, someone may have been known to be kind, funny, sweet and thoughtful; however, after the brain injury, the person may no longer seem the same. Although many traumatic brain injury survivors display versions of their pre-injury personality from time to time, they often are left with a different personality.
Why Do Brain Injuries Impact Personality?
When the brain is damaged, memory isn’t the only thing negatively affected. Personality is often impacted depending on the areas of the brain that are injured. For example, if the frontal and temporal lobes are damaged, a brain injury survivor may very well suffer a change in personality. Depending on the severity of the brain injury and the areas of the brain that are damaged, a victim may suffer a subtle personality change or experience a major change in personality.
Personality Changes Brain Injury Survivors May Experience
- Negativity. Someone may have been positive and had good humor prior to a serious brain injury and is now inclined to be negative. Not only do many brain injury survivors seem depressed and negative, but they may also say hurtful, insensitive things to their loved ones and bring those around them down.
- Lacking motivation. Brain injuries have been known to take away someone’s intrinsic instinct of motivation. Someone may have been a leader, go getter, or planner prior to the brain injury and now watches others and has no goals or ambition.
- Unpredictability. One moment a brain injury survivor may seem fine and then suddenly shifts moods and become intense and angry. Sadly, some survivors even seem dangerous and physically aggressive—scaring their loved ones at times due to their unpredictable personalities.
Because people living with serious brain injuries are affected in so many ways—from physical injuries to mental injuries, it’s only normal for their personalities to change due to their impairments and states of mind. Although personality changes are common effects of brain injuries, survivors and their families shouldn’t just accept it. They should still seek professional help and therapy, especially when dealing with intense and frightening personality changes.
Since getting professional counseling and medical treatment is very expensive, brain injury survivors and their families should turn to injury lawyers who have experience handling brain injury claims. If you would like to discuss your potential lawsuit, contact us online for answers to your questions or call us at 703-721-4233 for a free consultation.