Are your emotions out of control?


 * I feel like part of me is gone

It is common to suffer from grief after a TBI. There different stages of grief and one does not have to die or to lose a loved one in order to go through these stages of grief. When an individual suffers from TBI, they and their family will go through the stages of grief. Denial, Anger, Depression and Grief are the four main ones. Sometimes you will also find bargaining in there. Just as if you have lost a loved one, you and your family will go through these four main stages of grief as you transition from non brain injury to brain injury. Everyone goes through these stages differently as each person completes the transition differently.

Whenever there is major change in our life, it will lead towards a transition of self. When you suffer a TBI, you are leaving the old behind and dealing with and accepting the new. How you react to what has happened and your attitude will play a large role in the transition process and dealing with it. Some believe that success can be summed up by attitude.

Everyone will cope with their grief and transition differently, for some they may want to write, others may want to go to a support group and some may want to talk to a counsellor. What is important to remember that if you are feeling suicidal or severly depressed to make sure someone knows or to contact your local crisis line and receive the proper support needed to work through your depression and grief.

Here are a couple of resources that may assist in dealing with the stress and understanding one's emotions. Remember that a brain injury can affect all parts of the brain and sometimes that means that your emotions can be affected, impulsivity (meaning lack of control over shopping or pure impulsive actions that one did not have before). This also means anger, stress and lack of motivation, you just don't feel like doing anything. It is okay to experience all of these feelings, it is important to remember to take control, you are the driver and you are always the one in control,not the brain injury.

Resources

Personal Safety Net: Article retrieved from the Brain Injury Resource Centre. []

Stress Management Following Brain Injury: Strategies for Families and Caregivers.: Retrieved from the Brain-Train website. []