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Kenjhee · 06-24-2013, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJC1864

Thank you for that.

My question--in periods like this and with PCS is our emotional and mental guard `down` where we are prone to unreasonable reactions and thinking ?

Hi MJC1864. In direct response to your question, the answer is a resounding yes, unfortunately. Acutely impaired judgment is a hallmark of brain injury. People make bad decisions, react to inner rage, say and do things that make little sense even to the person doing it.

The following is a bit long. It is notes that I've kept on behavior issues, particularly anger, as this is a problem especially for me...

Quote:

GENERAL

“Anger is a special problem in the World of Head Injury.”

“Head injury survivors may experience a range of neuro*psychological problems following a traumatic brain injury. Depending on the part of the brain affected and the severity of the injury, the result on any one individual can vary greatly. Personality changes, memory and judgement deficits, lack of impulse control, and poor concentration are all common.”

“Feelings of anger and alienation are common after brain injury.”

“Head injury gives many people a short fuse–they get angry over little things, and they get angrier than most people.”

“Family members of individuals with TBI often refer to the injured person having a "short fuse," "flying off the handle" easily, being irritable or having a quick temper.”

FROM THE CODEPENDENTS

“My son sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) that has turned his life upside down. He has NEVER had a criminal record or even as much as a parking ticket. Since his accident, he has been charged with terrorstic threats to his exwife and her father, harrassment and disorderly conduct (all charges are from the same case) … and only lives with me now because he has seizures, black outs, and extreme pain from his fall. Again, any advice is appreciated. God Bless… And please remember this is a good person were talking about. Always helpful to anyone who needed it. This injury has made him a person I no longer recognize and I’m so scared for him…”

“My husband has never been able to keep a job due to his outbursts.”

“My son, now 18, had explosive anger. I have holes in my walls. My bedroom door is broke, from when I tried to lock myself in my room. He put his fist through a class window, which required more than 20 stitches, tore a nerve, and required surgery. He now has virtually no use of his right hand. After a night of trying to hurt himself he ended up on the psych ward.”

“Sometimes he gets so angry I'm not sure what is best to do.”

“He has become...violent is the only way I can put it. It's like a light switch and anything can set it off and once it’s on he wants to kill everyone and everything. We've been married for 3 months now, and I just need someone to talk to.”

FROM TBI SURVIVORS THEMSELVES

“Ever since I got hurt, I have unexplained anger crop up on me. I just get sooo mad. Look out world. I have started running into a room by myself when this happens and just yelling and crying and cussing until I calm down. If anyone tries to follow me I SCREAM at them to stay away. (I never used to be this way).”

“I think the same things that made me mad before make me mad now but now I can’t control my anger.”

“I have to constantly remind myself not to react (or overreact ) to what is being said or even sent in an e-mail, as my mental processing is askew. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt if and when there is a question in my mind as to the intention of their comment, as I can no longer trust my gut instincts for verbal and nonverbal cues. Lots and lots of self talk! Of course if I am tired, the whole self control thing goes way out the window!”

“It does explain why I was "off" socially... just don't know where the line is, what is socially appropriate to say: I'm disinhibited.”

“People couldn’t understand why I made certain choices, and they didn’t comprehend why I would react the way I did when I was told my actions were inappropriate. It’s not because I’m mean, stupid, crazy or retarded; it was because I had a head injury–and my brain was doing the best it could given the circumstances.”

“I don't blame you for how you feel about your son. You are in mourning. I "lost" my husband 2.5 years ago. He "lost" me in the same accident. We both sustained a TBI. His was much worse. We separated last October and will probably be moving to make it permanent. He can't control his rage and I can't control my sadness. A TBI is described as the greatest heartache. We're too different people, but I am accepting the path that God has put us on. I feel for you and your wife.”

“The major thing is my anger issues. I was always the type of person that when I got angry I would cry. Now I get mad so mad that I think that I could hurt someone. And it happens over stupid things.”

“I recently started having this problem. I'm having random thoughts of hurting myself or loved ones. It's very confusing, and it's taking a toll on me because I would NEVER EVER do something like that. Why on earth am I having thoughts about doing things that I would never even dream of doing? The more I try to get them out of my head, the deeper they seem to imprint. I was reading around online and it seems to be a symptom of GAD and OCD. Wondering if I should mention this to my neurologist...I just don't want him to think I'm crazy.

I had a similar problem before my injury that was a little less frightening, compared to the thoughts I'm having now - I would be standing there talking to someone and have a vision of me punching them in the face. So I guess I've always had this problem but it's just recently got worse. Weird.”