Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) can occur from a variety of scenarios. The Mayo Clinic highlights the various ways someone can sustain a TBI as:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Aggression and/or violence
- Combat related experiences
- Falls
- Sports
TBIs can also occur from within a person’s body from an internal infection or lack of oxygen.
Navigating Life After A TBI
After someone sustains a TBI, they can experience unique and, sometimes, widespread challenges in their lives. These challenges may relate to cognitive challenges or deficits. Some ways this can appear is as difficulty with short and long-term memory; verbal expression; concentration; impulse control; and/or finding the correct words to use when forming sentences.
Additionally, a TBI can impact one’s fine and gross motor movements as well. This can create challenges at work – typing, writing, and lifting objects. Additionally, TBIs can impact one’s ability to engage in activities they once enjoyed, such as: basketball, football, or snowboarding.
Furthermore, a person experiences a TBI they can experience challenges managing their emotions. The individual can lash out on others, have mood lability, or experience emotions that do not match the situation they are in.
Grief and Loss with a TBI
With these or similar challenges, a person loses parts of who they were as they can’t do what they once could. This can lead to grief and loss related to the changes in their lives. Open to Hope highlights the stages of grief and loss as:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
These stages may look different for everyone person and can be occur in any order. Human beings are complex beings, and no one experiences grief in the same way.
Navigating Changes in Identity After a TBI
Grief and loss is one thing to manage and work through after a TBI. The changes in personality, character, and how you navigate the world often shift after a TBI as well. You and the world may view you differently.  Different standards may be applied to you than before the TBI. After a TBI, sometimes one’s abilities and independency shift and more support is needed. These changes may be counter to your personal values, and you may not feel at home in your own body.
How to Navigate the Challenges of a TBI?
You don’t have to do this alone. Seeking an individual therapist in Denver trained in TBI therapy can be the first step in navigating these challenges. In-person or virtual therapy in Colorado can allow you the space the voice your concerns, worries, and work towards creating a life worth living. A
mental health therapist can also help you manage and develop coping skills to manage:
- Anxiety
- Anger
- Depression
- Trauma
- Irritability
- Rage
- Impulse Control
What Are the Next Steps?
If you or someone you know has sustained a TBI and could benefit from individual therapy inDenver either call us at, 720.295.6703, or submit a form here. Our therapists are trained to support those who experience TBIs and provide therapy throughout the state of Colorado.
