After getting involved in a crash, it is not uncommon to suffer from injuries in the aftermath. Head injuries are among the most common. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in specific cause injured drivers weeks, months or even years of suffering.
TBIs can have a profound effect on many areas of your life. This includes effects that are not talked about as often, such as changes to your personality.
Impulse control
Mayo Clinic discusses the many impacts that a TBI can have on your overall life. This includes its potential impact on your personality. Why does a TBI alter aspects of your personality? Simply put, some of your personality comes from physical aspects of your brain. For example, the frontal lobe controls your impulses. When the frontal lobe takes damage, you may have a harder time curbing your impulses.
This impulsivity often leads to rash decision-making and uncharacteristic risk taking behavior. It can also make a person seem less tactful, as they might say or do things that they would have deemed socially impolite before.
Anger management
Another major change involves your temperament. It is common for TBI sufferers to experience elevated anger. You may feel easier to agitate and quicker to succumb to irritation. You might snap and lash out at those around you. This is often a difficult experience for you and your loved ones.
Stress management suffers, too. This means you are more likely to struggle with small grievances than before. It can lead to emotional breakdowns and trouble managing your distress in the short and long term. These many new difficulties often make life harder for TBI sufferers. It is also why people in your position seek financial compensation for the damage done.
