It is generally understood by people that a head injury can change an individual’s memories and thoughts, but still have a difficult time understanding that it can also change their emotions. Emotions do not come from nowhere; they are inside of the head, just like every other response. The most common two changes with head injuries occur in the emotions, affecting anger and depression. An individual may have had a bad temper or been known as a ‘hot head’ before they have an accident and afterward the anger may increase by two or three times what it was prior. One example of this could be, if their dog misbehaves, it makes them angry, but just put the dog outside.
After suffering a head injury, this may change and the anger is so intensified that they have the urge to harm the dog. The anger after a head injury, is not the same as normal anger, it is quite different, and normally happens fast and ends quickly. Something small can happen that triggers the anger, and just as suddenly it ends, it can even stop because someone changes the subject of conversation and that fast the anger dissipates. Then there is the other type of head injury patient, who something small makes them angry and then the entire day is ruined. While the individual does not stay angry all day, they feel they are in a bad mood.
Then there are many people, who have had a head injury that instead of getting angry become emotional, and cry at the smallest things. This isn’t quite as bad for women as it is for men, since they are supposed to be the tougher of the sexes. A male head injury individual might see a movie, where they become emotional and cry, but prior to the event, they never cried as an adult. Many of these individuals have a difficult time with this and feel they are on an emotional roller coaster.
Why is this Happening?
They question why this happens. The middle sections of the brain are primitive emotional areas, which is where the feelings of anger, fear and sexual feelings originate. These primitive emotions can be seen in animals, even the family pet. Humans have primitive systems, in which the brain if you are angry may say hit something or when hungry can say “we need to eat.” It will say do it now, don’t wait.
The front lobes of the brain help to control these primitive commands, and says “no” for example when the primitive part of the brain says to hit something, because you are mad. It will tell you that hitting a thing, person or object, is not the smart thing to do and will have consequences. Whether it means hurting your hand, getting in trouble for hitting another person or breaking the object, the frontal lobes saying do not take this action. Looking at it from another point of view, the primitive part of the brain acts as a heating system, and the frontal lobes act as a thermostat, to regulate the temperature. In the event that the thermostat or “NO” part of the frontal lobes is not working correctly, then the primitive parts of the brain are more influential.
The changes in emotions, when they create anger may cause family members and friends to begin avoiding the individual. Family members that must be around the person will learn they must be careful of their actions and interactions with this individual to avoid setting off their temper. Friends and family experiencing the wrath of this individual will be afraid of the changes and being subjected to the anger they see in the individual. Even when they understand the changes are due to the injury.
Time Out it Works
What can the person that had a head injury do? The one thing that may be helpful in dealing with anger is to give yourself a “time out.” When you feel a topic or something going on is causing anger, leave the room, before reaching the point of wanting to hit something or someone, throwing something or saying hurtful words. Avoiding this, by walking away from what is causing the irritation should be done for a minimum of 15 minutes. Leave the room, or house and take a walk, but think about other things, do not dwell on what caused the angry feelings. The reason for 15 minutes, rather than say 5 minutes, even though most people feel calm after 5 minutes, is because going back into the same situation in that short of an amount of time, will instantly cause the anger again. It actually takes longer for the emotional system to calm down, and this is why the “time out” should be at least 15 minutes. The more often “time outs” are practiced, the more the person will learn to control their feelings, and be able to hold back the emotion. The more anyone tries something the better they will get at it, for example, learning to play baseball, the more practice hitting the ball the better you will be. Using a “time out” is a good way to practice control of the emotions causing anger, and the more often it is used, the more control the individual will have.
The main issue with a “time out” is that the person may not realize when they are angry, until it is too late. The family member with the person that has suffered a head injury may see signs of irritation and anger beginning to build. Prior to the outburst that will ultimately occur the signs of anger building may be the jaw tightening, clinched fists, and tapping of the foot or fingers. The person with the head injury may not notice the situation or the impending outburst of anger, which can occur at home or out in public. As an example, the person may be in a restaurant, where another patron’s child is acting up, being loud and throwing things, and this can cause enough irritation that the person will, tell the parents to control their child, in a less than friendly manner. The signs of the anger building should be recognized by the family, they should learn quickly what these warnings are, whether it is the clinching fists, the tightening of the jaw, breathing heavily or even sweating. The signs can be different for each person. The family members when recognizing the can assist with the “time out.” They can warn the person their anger is beginning to build and in most cases family members are the targets of the anger.
Time Out Family Rules
The “time out” should also have rules, one which is no matter who calls the “time out” the person has got to do it. Even if the person with the head injury does not feel that it is fair, they still need to take at least a 15 minute “time out.” This in some cases can cause you to feel mad, because another family member has decided to call the “time out.” The family also has rules, in being able to have this power, they cannot just call “time outs” for no reason, and they also are not permitted to chase after the head injury individual with an ongoing argument, which is known as the no-nagging rule. They must do their part in the time out, by shutting up, not continuing the topic that caused the anger or telling the person other things they do that are not right.
What may help is having a signal for a “time out,” which can be anything; even making a T with the hands like would be done at a sporting event, by the referee. There can be less obvious signs that are used in public, such as touching the nose, an ear lobe or something else that signals the person to leave for at least 15 minutes, before they have an outburst. In the beginning it may not seem like this system will work, but over time this can be an efficient way to help the individual recognize when they need to take a “time out” and help them deal with the anger issue better.