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How Can A TBI Affect Your Personality?

On Behalf of | Mar 7, 2022 | Personal Injury |

Head injuries affect victims in numerous ways. These symptoms can manifest in behavioral, physical and emotional forms.

Due to the complex ways that these symptoms intersect, it is even possible for a brain injury to affect the personality of the victim.

Impulse control

The CDC Injury Center examines TBIs in head injury victims. A traumatic brain injury is a serious form of head injury that usually involves swelling, bruising, or even death of cell tissue in the damaged area of the brain. For many victims, recovery can take years, and some aspects of the injury will last a lifetime.

When it comes to personality, victims will typically see changes in a few different areas. This includes their temper, their impulse control and their ability to manage stress.

Raging tempers

Many TBI victims will struggle to control their temper, which can often spiral out of control in the aftermath of an injury. This can lead to victims antagonizing and lashing out at even their closest loved ones. This can cause confusion and hurt among said loved ones, who often claim they can no longer even recognize the victim due to this altered temperament.

If the frontal lobe suffers an injury, they will likely also struggle with impulse control. For many, this manifests in saying and doing things without thinking first. The social filter that prevents people from saying hurtful things often falls, resulting in further accidental harm to loved ones.

Finally, many victims can no longer cope with or manage stress. This can lead to high-strung and anxious personality traits, which may worsen if the victim cannot find a new way to cope with the daily stressors of life.