Brain Injury Known to Cause Anxiety and Depression

January 20, 2021, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury then you will know that the symptoms can be wildly varied. There can be physical problems or disability, paralysis, emotional problems, cognitive impairment, sleep problems, impulse control and other issues. What is certain is that the injury and the symptoms can also cause anxiety and depression in the patient. It is imperative to treat all of the symptoms of the injury.

Car accidents, workplace accidents, slip and falls, sporting accidents and physical assaults are all leading causes of brain injury. The injury can be mild or severe but any impairment can result in depression and anxiety. These can stem from the brain injury itself or from the sense the patient has of loss, losing themselves or the fear of not recovering.

Why is getting treatment so important:

Some brain injuries are obvious due to the visible injuries. Others are more subtle. There are no outward signs of bloody wounds, but the brain can be severely injured. In either case, it’s imperative the injury be immediately diagnosed, and that treatment of the wounds and injury begins. This treatment can help to improve the patient’s physical and mental well being. It also means that any early signs of depression or anxiety are spotted and that the treatment of those symptoms can begin as well.

Too often when depression and anxiety aren’t identified early then treatment doesn’t begin until a crisis point is reached. Self-medication with drugs and alcohol is a real risk.

What mental health problems are common?

Anxiety and depression are very common, and they can compound the patient’s symptoms by impacting their quality of life. They can make recovery even more difficult.

Anxiety is often characterized by irrational fears. These fears are not proportional to the situation. Anxiety can mean that a person is trapped in their own world, and can result in severe panic attacks. Anxiety can also lead to depression.

Depression can manifest in many ways including:

• Having a short temper or being volatile
• Showing little interest in family, friends or previously enjoyed interests
• Having a significantly decreased or increased appetite
• Having sleep disorders – lack of sleep or sleeping all the time
• Increased use of drugs and alcohol
• Having no energy
• Thinking of self-harm, dying or suicide
• Withdrawing from daily life and friends – not answering the phone or texts or emails for example.

Treatment options:

Treatment for both depression and anxiety fall on a spectrum. Some self-care and lifestyle modifications can help. Identifying what makes you feel worse is key – understanding triggers and avoiding them may help.

Other treatment options include counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy, regular exercise and sleep, having a well-defined routine, and in some cases, medication may be prescribed in combination with psychotherapy.

If you suspect that you or a loved one with a head injury is suffering from anxiety and depression you should seek care immediately. Mental illness is a serious and treatable condition. If left untreated it can destroy relationships, work life and family life.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

It is important that you review your accident benefit file with one of our experienced personal injury / car accident lawyers to ensure that you obtain access to all your benefits which include, but are limited to, things like physiotherapy, income replacement benefits, vocational retraining and home modifications.