Traumatic brain injuries – or TBIs – tend to have lasting and far-reaching impacts on their victims. These impacts often manifest in ways a victim does not anticipate.
They can also have a strong behavioral impact on victims in some cases, which is not what many people think of when considering TBIs.
Impulse control and aggression
CDC Injury Center discusses some of the ways TBIs impact the brain. The impacts can vary based on numerous potential factors of influence, including but not limited to the severity of the head injury, the health of the victim and where the injury occurred.
TBIs that affect the frontal lobe happen frequently, and these TBIs often impact a victim’s impulse control. This can have numerous different effects. First, it can change a victim’s temperament. If they have less control over their impulses, they can fly into fits of rage more easily.
This often happens, too, as another common effect of a TBI is an increase in aggression. Aggressive behavior manifests in many different ways but often involves lashing out at loved ones, especially due to the aforementioned impulse control issues.
Diminished stress response
On top of this, victims of TBIs have a diminished stress response, too. They have a much weaker ability to handle stress when it appears, including the relatively small stressors of daily life. This can lead to emotional outbursts and breakdowns, even in public places such as while on the job.
Needless to say, these changes can have a severe impact on a victim’s life and on their relationships. While some of these effects may lessen or vanish with time, others still pose a major problem for years to come.