One of the hardest injuries to deal with is to the brain. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have various impacts on people’s lives depending on their severity and the part of the brain affected.
One thing people don’t often talk about is how significantly an individual’s personality can change following a brain injury. It is fairly common to see major changes to victims after a brain injury. You may notice changes in your own behavior if it’s you who suffered the TBI.
What kinds of behavior changes can you expect from a TBI?
Not all victims experience behavioral changes, but those who have suffered injuries to the temporal lobe or amygdala have a greater risk of these type of consequences. These two areas of the limbic system carry out emotional processing and are responsible for personality and behavior traits.
Will someone with behavior changes have them forever?
That also varies based on the injury. Someone with a mild concussion may struggle with anxiety or nervous behaviors for only a short time. Compared to someone with significant injuries to the temporal lobe, they may have an easy recovery. Someone with frontal lobe injuries may have personality changes that never reverse, although it is common to see improvements over time and with treatment.
If your loved one experienced a significant change in personality, it’s likely going to be a great shock to everyone. Remember, seeking the proper medical treatment can go a long way toward helping them recover. You can help by making sure they don’t settle for less than they deserve following a personal injury.