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Hit your head? Your head injury could change your personality

On Behalf of | Apr 4, 2022 | Personal Injury |

Did you know that brain injuries can cause major changes in a person’s behaviors? Your personality is tied into many areas of your brain, but damaging certain areas can increase the likelihood of major changes of personality.

For example, did you know that the orbitofrontal cortex plays a part in your empathy? It also helps you to control impulsive behavior. Unfortunately, if this part of the brain is damaged, you could have a harder time controlling reckless behaviors and could lose the ability to empathize with those around you.

Brain damage can affect your moods

It’s simply the reality that brain damage can impact the way you feel. You may become anxious, depressed or have mood swings because of the trauma you’ve been through as well as the physical damage to the brain. While mood changes aren’t necessarily the same as personality changes, your loved ones may believe that your personality has changed significantly.

Many people with TBIs have what’s called the “flat affect,” which is when they seem less interested in their loved ones or the activities they enjoyed in the past. Essentially, the brain injury impacts the ability for the person to express their feelings, even if they still have them.

Others are more likely to become aggressive. In some studies, it has been shown that around 30% of those with traumatic brain injuries struggle with aggression or anger.

Will your personality get back to normal after a head injury?

Usually, as people’s brains heal and they begin to go back to their normal day-to-day activities, their original personality starts to shine through again. Their anxiety may come back under control, or they may stop feeling so depressed.

However, real damage to the brain’s orbitofrontal cortex, for example, could cause permanent changes to the way the person interacts with others or their thoughts, behaviors or feelings.

After a brain injury, you deserve the opportunity to heal and rest. Part of doing that may be working with someone who can assist you with a personal injury claim. Making that claim could help you get the compensation you need to focus on your health instead of financial concerns.