Recovery after a brain injury can be extremely challenging. Our brain is responsible for so many things, including body functions, emotions, personality, behaviours, coordination, thinking, and problem-solving abilities. An injury to the brain can impact any of these areas and often results in significant challenges in daily life. While medical treatment is often associated with recovery and rehabilitation after a brain injury, therapy support is also beneficial. Read more to find out how working with a counsellor can help someone with a brain injury.
What is a brain injury?
According to the World Health Organization, brain injury is damage to the brain that occurs after birth and is not related to a degenerative or congenital disease. It may cause impairments that are either temporary or permanent and can impact daily life in a multitude of ways. There are three classifications of brain injury:
1. Concussion: happens when the brain is shaken inside the skull and can occur even if the head is not directly impacted such as through whiplash or strong jolts to the body. Concussions are known as mild traumatic brain injuries, but this does not mean the symptoms are mild in terms of how they can impact daily living, especially if symptoms are prolonged.
2. Traumatic: Traumatic acquired brain injuries (TBIs) are caused by blows, bumps, and jolts affecting the head. The most common causes are assaults, falls, intimate partner violence, motor vehicle accidents, and sports injuries. TBIs can result in short or long term cognitive, behavioural, emotional, and/or physical impairments.
3. Non-traumatic: Damage to the brain causes by a health conditions or substance use. This includes things like stroke, brain tumours, opioid overdose, and aneurysms.
Why should I try therapy after a brain injury?
Sustaining a brain injury can be a very difficult thing to experience. Depending on where the injury is in the brain you may experience differences in your cognitive abilities, changes in your behaviour, difficulties managing emotions, and various physical symptoms. Brain injury symptoms are unique to each person but are impactful regardless of how they show up.
These difficulties may have an impact on your life in general, including how you socialize and interact with others, what activities you are able to engage in and enjoy, and if you can continue working. These drastic changes combined with managing symptoms of brain injury often result in a decline in mental health. People with brain injuries are more susceptible to anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns. There may also be a feeling of loss and grief as comparisons are made to what life looked like before and after the brain injury. There is often a blow to a person’s sense of self as they try to figure out what their “new normal” is.
Working with a counsellor can help those with brain injuries process what has happened. It is also a safe place to grieve the loss of who you were before and explore what your future looks like. A counsellor can also provide guidance on how to cope with overwhelming emotions along with concerns such as anxiety and depression that are related to the injury.
How to support a loved one recovering from a brain injury
Brain injury is an invisible disability, meaning the person may not show any outward sign of injury. However, it is important to remember that the person is dealing with very real effects that may not be obvious on the surface. Refrain from making comments about how the person looks like their “old self” or is “doing so well”. While it may seem this way, it may not feel that way to them. They may also be taking steps to ensure they can socialize or attend an event that you are not aware of, such as resting the full day before and/or after.
While it does not affect everyone, brain injury can result in behaviour changes such as increased aggression or emotional dysregulation. While this can be challenging, try your best to remain calm and supportive. Brain Injury Canada recommends showing you are trying your best to understand how the person is feeling, keeping your composure, and redirecting the person’s attention when necessary.
Recovery and rehabilitation is different for everyone, so work with your loved one to determine what would be helpful for them and how you can support. If they are working with a medical team, you can also ask for guidance and suggestions on what would be most beneficial.
If you or a loved one have sustained a brain injury, please reach out to us to learn more about how we can help navigate the aftereffects of this. Members of our team have experience working with clients with a brain injury and can provide informed mental health support. April Link, Cady Redford, Cat Zydyk and Kelsey Reynolds are a few of our therapists with training in working with brain injury.
Written by Cat Zydyk
References:
Brain Injury Canada. (n.d.) Psychosocial & physiological factors of brain injury. www.braininjurycanada.ca
Brain Injury Canada. (n.d.) What is a brain injury? www.braininjurycanada.ca