Head Injury Center

After suffering from a traumatic brain injury, a person undergoes many examinations, treatments and medications. The patients may also face consequences of the head injury like vision problems and hearing problems. All along this time, the patients experience mental stress and emotional trauma. They also feel lonely and helpless about the situation that they are facing. When suffering from a traumatic brain injury, the patients have to deal with many challenges that they face. In many cases, patients cannot cope up with traumatic brain injury and they go into a depression. This depression can be for a short period of time or also long lasting. Some symptoms of depression that are seen in head injury patients are:

• Sleeping disorders in the patients is a well known symptom of depression. The patients either suffer from insomnia that is sleeplessness or they sleep for longer hours than they normally slept before the head injury.
• The patients are no more interested and excited about the activities that once they used to like and enjoy doing.
• The patients may have feelings of guilt for something. They might also think that their existence in unworthy and no use to anyone.
• The behavior of patients can be lethargic and they may suffer from constant fatigue along with low energy level. In some cases, it may also happen that the patients are agitated about everything and become hyperactive.
• The ability to pay attention is lessened or lost in TBI patients and as a result they cannot concentrate properly.
• Sudden changes in appetite can occur in the patients. The patients may eat more than they used to before TBI or they might lose interest in food and not feel like eating.
• The patients can feel that they are lonely and there is no one to support them. In such situation, they may also consider the option of suicide.

The effects of depression on the life of TBI patients can be dangerous. They may not be able to resume to the daily activities like work throughout their life. Also, depression makes it more difficult to recover from head injury. With proper consultation of the doctor or medical professionals, it is possible to overcome depression.

Credit
Depression in TBI patients