Understanding Lack of Empathy After Brain Injury and How to Cope

Lack of empathy after brain injury can cause TBI patients to appear more self-centered than they used to. However, this behavior does not mean your loved one is actually selfish. Their injury has just made it harder for them to identify the emotions of others. Today you will learn why a brain injury can lead to a lack of empathy, plus what therapies can help people regain their empathy skills. Causes of Lack of Empathy After Brain Injury Empathy is the ability to see things from another person’s perspective and feel what they feel. Multiple areas of the frontal lobe play a role in empathy...

Disinhibition After Brain Injury: Causes, Treatment, and Management

Disinhibition after brain injury is a common behavioral issue that occurs early in recovery. It refers to the loss of control over behavior and emotions. Today’s article will explain the causes and signs of disinhibition after brain injury, plus how to help the person regain control. Causes of Disinhibition After Brain Injury Disinhibition refers to the inability to control inappropriate behaviors. It can cause risky behavior, poor decision-making, and disregard for social subtleties. Unfortunately, disinhibition can lead to many problems, such as injuries and broken relationships. Areas of the brain involved in regulating behavior include the gyrus rectus and the insula among others, both located in the frontal...

Flat Affect After Brain Injury: How to Overcome Lack of Emotional Expressiveness

Mindfulness and meditation techniques are both effective methods for lowering blood pressure after head injury. Mindfulness simply means staying mentally present to your surroundings and the current moment. This helps you ignore the constant chatter that our brains normally produce, which is often the source of our stress and anxiety. To stay mentally present, it helps to have a point of focus that pulls your attention to your body. For most people, this point of focus is their breath. When your mind focuses on your breath, it’s much harder for thoughts and worries to get in. It gives you a chance to step back...

High Blood Pressure After Head Injury: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Although it is rare, some TBI patients can develop high blood pressure after head injury. In today’s article, you will learn some of the causes and effects of hypertension after a brain injury or concussion. We’ll also explain why controlling your blood pressure can actually help improve cognitive function. Parts of the Brain that Regulate Blood Pressure Blood pressure is related to heart function, salt and water retention, and the tone of blood vessels. When the heart’s left ventricle contracts, it forces oxygen-rich blood through your arteries to every part of your body. The brain also plays a role in determining blood pressure. Specifically,...

Confabulation After Brain Injury: Dealing With False Memories Following TBI

Confabulation after a brain injury causes a person to create false memories. However, the patient does not realize their memories are inaccurate, which can lead to confusion. You’re about to learn more about confabulation, including how to help your loved one cope with false memories. Let’s dive in. What is Confabulation? Confabulation refers to the creation of false or inaccurate memories without the intent to deceive. In other words, the person does not realize that their memory is false. For this reason, some psychologists refer to confabulation as “honest lying.” People who confabulate typically do so because of gaps in their memory – therefore...