How Are Brain Injuries and Depression Linked?

Lever & Ecker, PLLC March 22, 2022 Personal injury

Personal injury accidents can sometimes result in severe injuries and various physical symptoms. A common and dangerous injury you may face during an accident is a traumatic brain injury (TBI), where the brain suffers damage by a blow or jolt to the head. There are several different types of TBI, and all have a variety of symptoms. One of the most common symptoms of a TBI is depression.  

Many people who suffer a brain injury experience depression within the first year after the injury. Not only can the damage itself create neurological disruptions that can cause depression, but also the social and financial losses you suffer can prompt depressive episodes. Regardless of the reason, if the accident results in you struggling with depression, you can seek compensation for your losses. 

How to Recognize Signs of Depression after a Brain Injury

Many people can confuse depression with sadness, but what distinguishes the two is that depression causes more feelings of loss and hopelessness for long periods of time without recovering. Often, depression can overwhelm the individual and interfere with their daily life and enjoyment. After an accident, you may feel a normal amount of sadness, but it is essential to seek professional assistance if you start to recognize signs of depression. 

The following are examples of symptoms an individual can suffer because of depression:

  • Feeling sad, hopeless, or blue
  • Feeling guilty or worthless
  • Changes in appetite or sleeping patterns
  • Loss of interest in usual activities
  • Lacking in energy or exhausted
  • Feeling restless or fidgety
  • Withdrawing from friends and family
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Thoughts of suicide or death

When you are in a life-changing and unexpected accident, feeling sad is a normal response to the loss you experience. However, if these feelings persist and increase in severity, you will want to seek the help of a mental health professional.

How Can a Traumatic Brain Injury Cause Depression?

There are several reasons why brain injuries cause depression, including:

  • Changes in the brain from the injury: When the brain suffers a severe blow or jolt to the head, the TBI can cause physical changes to the brain tissue. Injury and brain tissue changes can sometimes dictate a person’s emotions by creating chemical imbalances. 
  • Emotional response to the injury: If you suffer from a brain injury, the symptoms can cause you to lose some of your freedom and can cause a disability. This may be challenging to adjust to and can cause you to suffer depression. 
  • Unrelated factors to injury: You may also suffer from depression due to physical changes, financial issues, or other changes unrelated to the injury.

Most personal injury accidents are preventable and result from another person’s careless behavior. If another person’s carelessness or recklessness causes you to suffer severe depression and other injuries, talk with a professional brain injury lawyer as soon as possible. 

Talk with Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers at Lever & Ecker, PLLC Today

With over 65 years of combined experience advocating for our clients in their personal injury claims, we at Lever & Ecker, PLLC have the knowledge and resources to offer honest legal advice. Our award-winning New York lawyers can guide you through the medical and legal processes of your claim. We understand the challenges you face and will provide you with the legal representation you can trust and count on. Focus on your recovery, and we will work to give you the best possible outcome for your case. 

Learn more about services and schedule a free consultation by calling (914) 288-9191 or (718) 933-3632 and filling out our contact form.

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