A family guide to emotional and behavioral changes after a brain injury
Understanding Brain Function
Your doctor may have told you that your loved one has suffered from a brain injury. What exactly does that mean? The brain is highly functioning organ that controls your entire body. It is divided into two main parts: the left brain and the right brain.
The left brain is responsible for controlling the right side of your body. It is also responsible for things such as reading, writing, arithmetic, and memory retrieval, which is bringing back things that have already happened in the past. One thing that is special about the left brain is that it is very detailed.
The left brain helps to recall the specific parts of thought, though only in a language format. It also remembers little things such as the rules of the English language, or whatever language you may speak.
In contrast, the right brain is responsible for controlling the left side of the body. The right brain is also seen as the creative side. It controls and contributes to activities like art, music, and non-verbal actions. Memory of sounds and sights is stored and recalled on the right side of the brain.
Some Things You Can Expect From a Person with a Brain Injury
Each person’s injury is unique to their situation. Therefore, each person reacts and recovers in a different way. Your loved one may experience some or all of these reactions.
Restlessness and agitation
When a person suffers a brain injury they are often unable to focus for large periods of time, therefore becoming restless or agitated. It is important to remember that these responses are normal, and that the person should only be given small amounts of information to process at one time. They will be able to think through and process small bits of information easier than complex ideas.
Lack of extreme emotional response
Due to the brain injury, your loved one may not show emotion over things that they may have been very concerned about prior to the injury. This is not because they don’t care, but because their emotional responses are simply not there. If the front part of the brain, which controls emotions and behavior, is damaged, it may cause your loved one to act out more. In addition, your loved one may have emotional outbursts or crying for no reason or when it may seem inappropriate. Be willing to give them support and talk to them. Ask them what they are feeling or why they are frustrated. Ask them if there is something you can do for them.
Continue —> Brain Injury: Why Does My Loved One Act Out?
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