When most people think about car accident injuries they think about physical traumas like whiplash and broken bones. However, a stressful event like a car accident can also impact you emotionally, too. The worry and pressure of dealing with the financial impact of a car accident, filing insurance claims, and dealing with car repairs can seem overwhelming to some people. What many people don’t realize is that car accident injuries can also negatively impact your behavior and personality. Car accident doctors are trained to identify these types of injuries as soon as possible and start treating the injury right away. It helps to get a better understanding of how a car accident can change someone’s personality and how to seek help if you experience this after a wreck.
Traumatic Brain Injury from a Car Accident
In a car accident, your seat belt may restrain you from getting ejected from the car but it won’t protect your head and neck from getting jostled around. The force of the impact with another vehicle can lead you to hit your head on the dashboard, steering wheel, window, or another part of the car. It is important to know that what seemed like a slight bump at the time can have lasting repercussions and cause a traumatic brain injury. All head injuries should get checked out by a doctor, no matter how small or insignificant they might seem at the time. A blow to the head can cause a concussion, which is the most common type of traumatic brain injury.
A traumatic brain injury occurs after a blow to the head or violent shaking that causes the brain to come in contact with the skull. In your daily life, there is a protective layer that helps absorb shock and allows the brain to subtly move and shift with everyday movements. However, in violent and surprising jolts, like a car accident, the brain can hit the skull, which can lead to bruising and swelling. Concussion symptoms vary from person to person and some people have more obvious signs of injury than others. Other head injuries that are cause for concern include a fractured skull or brain bleeds. Here are 3 head injuries caused by accidents to watch out for.
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
The more obvious signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury include dizziness, confusion, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and blurred vision. If you hit your head hard enough, it is also possible to blackout. Other symptoms include ringing in the ears, sensitivity to light and sound, stiff muscles, instability, and dilated or unequal pupils. Some people also report symptoms of nausea and vomiting, headaches, and irritability after a concussion. Traumatic brain injuries can cause cognitive, behavioral, muscular, and speech symptoms. A traumatic brain injury can also affect your mood, with people experiencing a variety of moods from anger to anxiety and an inability to control behaviors or impulses. The brain controls how the entire body functions and also informs your personality. When the brain is injured, it can negatively impact your mood, thoughts, feelings, and personality.
Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries
It is okay to feel apprehensive or nervous if you start to experience any personality changes after a car accident. When this happens, people can feel uncomfortable talking to someone about it or don’t know where to go for help. Car accident doctors are highly trained and skilled in addressing traumatic brain injuries and other issues that may develop due to being in a car wreck. Brain injuries require a doctor who specializes in these injuries so you can get the quality care and treatment you need. Your car accident doctor won’t just treat your pain and other symptoms, but will actually get to the root cause. That includes the root cause of any mood, behavior, or personality changes you may develop after a car accident. Accident doctors will use cutting-edge diagnostic imaging tools to support the diagnosis. A CT scan or MRI can help provide your doctor with clearer images of how the brain may have been impacted in the accident.
Whether you have a mild or severe brain injury, our accident doctors at ProCare Medical Center are here to help you through the recovery process. We offer comprehensive care and treatment for a wide variety of car accident injuries and can help you get on a path toward healing.
