The phrase “brain injury” is used to describe a situation in which a person suffers damage to their brain due to an external force. As we learn more about the brain and how these injuries impact its ability to function, different diagnoses are given, such as: concussions, brain contusions, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, etc. As our knowledge grows, so does our understanding of the symptoms presented with these diagnoses, such as: memory difficulties, sensitivity to environmental stimuli, headaches, difficulty balancing, and others. Unfortunately, the relationship between brain injuries and a person’s mental health is often not discussed or considered. While it may seem bizarre to think about a relationship between these diagnoses, brain injuries and mental health disorders manifest because of trauma to a person’s brain, and their shared impact can be devastating.
As stated above, brain injuries can have a devastating impact on a person’s ability to function in their daily lives because of the stress placed on the brain from performing routine tasks after suffering the trauma from the injury. What is less discussed, though, is the mental health concerns that arise from this trauma to the brain and the emotional toll suffered by the person experiencing these symptoms. The most common mental health diagnoses given post-brain injury include major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These diagnoses could be the result of physiological damage suffered from the brain injury as the physical injury could impact the person’s brain from being able to produce or regulate the levels of certain chemicals within their brain that help to regulate mood and emotions. The diagnoses listed above could also result from short or long-term difficulties experienced post-brain injury due to the physiological symptoms the person would be dealing with compared to the ease with which they may have been able to perform certain tasks beforehand. Additionally, personality changes have been noted in individuals who have suffered a brain injury, and this has been strongly linked to the change in the way that person’s brain can process information after the brain injury as this could have undergone a significant change which would lead to the person having a different perception of things than they once did. These changes are often the source of what causes mental health diagnoses to become significant in their lives as they adjust to how they can comprehend information and the new challenges they must overcome in their daily lives.
Apart from the potential development of a mental health diagnosis because of a brain injury, there are other concerns for those who already have a mental health diagnosis, as the trauma experienced from a brain injury could further exacerbate the mental health diagnoses and symptoms already present. A prime example of this can be seen in individuals diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as those diagnosed can already struggle with difficulties associated with concentration, memory, focus, and many other facets. The addition of suffering the trauma of a brain injury and dealing with the onslaught of symptoms on top of the already difficult time of maintaining focus and concentration can be debilitating, to say the least. Additionally, there is the added impact of the potential to develop new mental health diagnoses as well, as described above, from the worsened symptoms and challenges that could face the person in their daily lives as they try to heal and work through the damage that has already been done.
When all of this is considered, it shows a very dangerous and complicated relationship between these two seemingly unrelated diagnoses. It illustrates the importance of protection from these types of injuries. Steps to address these concerns are being taken in many different industries, such as the NFL, with rule changes made to protect the athletes from these types of injuries. However, it is also vital that we all play a role in protecting ourselves and others from these dangers by recognizing the signs associated with a brain injury and ensuring that those who are suspected of experiencing a brain injury are seeking the help necessary to address these concerns.
