When to worry about a head injury: Watch out for mood swings, increased anxiety and depression, decreased cognitive functions

Health risks of head trauma: Damage to the brain’s frontal areas can affect how you manage emotions and make decisions, leading to problems in relationships and social situations

Your brain controls everything you do. Though it makes up only about 2 percent of the body’s weight,  it contains 100 billion neurons that manage your thoughts, actions, and emotions. Even a small injury to the brain can disrupt its intricate network, affecting memory, cognitive functions, and mood.

Brain injuries can slow down how we think, affect how we handle emotions, and make remembering things harder, says Dr Sunil Furtado, Senior Consultant and Head of Neurosurgery, Ramaiah Institute of Neurosciences, Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, Bengaluru.

After a brain injury, people often notice their thinking process slows down. It might take longer to answer a question or complete everyday tasks. “Paying attention can be tough too, especially when there are distractions or multiple things to focus on at once,” shares Dr Furtado.

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According to him, memory can be affected in different ways. While some people have trouble remembering new information, others struggle to retrieve things they already know. “Injuries to the brain can affect how you store and recall memories, making it hard to remember important details. These changes can make it difficult to work, study, or even maintain relationships,” explains Dr Furtado.

Brain injuries don’t just affect how you think, they can also have a big impact on how you feel. “People with brain injuries often experience sudden mood swings, such as laughing or crying without reason. Anxiety and irritability can also increase, and depression is much more common in people recovering from brain injuries. Damage to the brain’s frontal areas can affect how you manage emotions and make decisions, leading to problems in relationships and social situations,” he says.  These emotional changes can be just as challenging as the physical ones, requiring both medical and psychological support.

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Dr Furtado shares the common effects of brain injuries on mental and cognitive health

• Slower thinking: Tasks that once felt easy might take longer to finish.

• Difficulty focusing: It can be hard to pay attention to one thing at a time or block out distractions.

• Memory issues: People may struggle to remember new information or find it hard to recall things they knew before.

• Inability to form new memories: This condition, called anterograde amnesia, makes it hard to remember things after the injury.

• Trouble sleeping: Insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns are common, which can worsen emotional and cognitive problems.

• Mood swings: Emotional reactions might become unpredictable, like laughing or crying without a clear reason.

• Increased anxiety and depression: Worry, irritability, and even depression are more common in brain injury survivors.

• Difficulty with social interactions: Understanding how others feel or responding appropriately in social situations may become harder.

• Impaired decision-making: It can be tough to make sound judgments or learn from past experiences.

Dr Furtado suggests the following interventions to improve cognitive and emotional well-being:

• Cognitive strategies: Techniques like keeping a memory journal or creating a structured routine can help with memory and focus.
• Medication: Medications may be prescribed to manage cognitive and emotional symptoms, helping people feel more in control.
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): This type of therapy helps people manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviour, often including relaxation exercises and coping strategies.