Blows to the head during accidents are not usually fatal but can majorly impact a person. It can cause a concussion or brain injury that could drastically alter their life. Depending on the severity of the concussion or brain injury, it could result in symptoms like personality changes, impaired memory, mobility issues, and cognitive function problems.
This can lead brain injury victims to depression. At least 50% of brain injury victims suffer from depression within a year of their injuries. It is essential to recognize the signs and get the help you need to manage depression after a brain injury or concussion.
Understanding the difference between mild, moderate, and severe brain injuries is important in determining your next steps.
Causes of Depression after Brain Injury or Concussion
Brain injury or concussion is caused after a severe blow to your head that typically happens in accident cases, like car accidents and slip-and-fall accidents. Many brain injury or concussion patients suffer from depression due to multiple factors. The main cause of depression after such injury can vary, but the most common causes of depression include:
- ● Changes in the Brain after the Blow: Depression can be caused because a particular part of the brain that manages emotions have been injured during the accident. This may result in an impact on the natural chemicals, known as neurotransmitters, in the brain that causes depression.
- Emotional Reaction to the Trauma: Being involved in an accident can be a traumatic experience. The fear and shock, the medical treatment, and the struggle to deal with a lasting or temporary disability can be enough to put the victim into depression. Moreover, the role changes and/or losses due to the accident could add to the emotional state.
Consulting professional brain injury lawyers in Nevada can help you recover financial compensation for the brain injury or concussion medical expenses, wages lost due to the accident, and other sufferings.
Tips to Manage Depression after a Brain Injury or Concussion
Here are some useful tips to help you manage depression after your injury:
1. Seek Professional Help
The best way to manage depression after a brain injury or concussion is to consult a professional therapist. Psychotherapy can help victims cope with challenging time with healthy mechanisms and allow them to deal with their feelings properly. Some therapists also prescribe medications to victims dealing with depression to balance the brain chemicals.
2. Join Support Groups
Becoming a part of support groups can allow you to learn from people who are dealing with depression. These groups provide appropriate peer support and show you that you are not alone.
3. Share your Feelings
Talking about your emotions and feelings with your friends or family members is another way to deal with depression. If you are unable to talk about it, consider writing about it or finding other ways to communicate.
4. Try Relaxation Techniques
Well-being methods, like meditation, yoga, and mindfulness, can be effective for brain injury patients to deal with depression. It is best to work with a counselor or therapist to learn the best ways to use these techniques.
5. Find Ways to Eliminate Isolation
Staying isolated can worsen depression. Therefore, try being around supportive people and keep yourself busy with things that bring you joy. Ask a loved one to check up on you or join a group or activity to prevent isolation.
6. Exercise Regularly
Exercising even for 15 to 20 minutes is a great way to manage your depression. Moreover, it can also help with mobility issues but be sure to consult a physiotherapist if your mobility has been severely affected. If you are unable to exercise, a thirty minutes walk around the neighborhood or in a park can greatly help your depression.
Get Guidance from an Expert Personal Injury Lawyer in Nevada
Head injuries that cause a concussion or brain injuries can result in significant physical and mental stress on the victims. If you are dealing with depression after a brain injury accident in Nevada, getting professional help is integral.
Consulting a lawyer for someone’s negligent act that caused the brain injury accident can help you manage the financial aspects of the treatment and wage loss. This can remove major stress from your shoulders, allowing you to focus on your mental and physical health.
Brain injury claims in Nevada can be complex, but the skilled lawyers at Bourassa Law Group can help you at every step. Our team ensures you recover the financial compensation you deserve for your losses, medical expenses, and mental stress. Book your free case consultation today by calling (800)870-8910 or sending us a message.
1-800-870-8910