Understanding Behavior Changes with TBI

Tedd Judd, PhD

Produced by Victoria Tilney McDonough and Brian King. Dr. Tedd Judd shares his experience and advice about culture, ethnicity, and brain injury rehab. Transcript of this video.

Posted on BrainLine April 29, 2009.

Comments (11)

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Anonymous replied on

My step son is in his early 20s and was lighting a firework and it blew up in his hand and hit his head in the front and he had a concussion but the Er Dr was worried about his hands they needed to take him to a bigger hospital out of town over 300 miles away to take care of his hands so the gash in his head they stitched up and swept that to the side. None of his family could go to be by his side during this traumatic time due to covid. Unfortunately he has had a lot happen in his life that was very tramatic then this happened he was also has done drugs in the past but he was never like this before and he has adhd on top of everything. He ended up loosing half his hand. He has changed so much he thinks his brother and uncle that has passed talk to him, thinks that they tell him and guide him he has said that he feels that he knows things and he has taken the problems of everything and everyone on his shoulder's he says he's scared for all of his family and the world. He has became very depressed and doesn't want to leave the house and stays away from everyone including his brother and sister. he has said alot of things that happened but they are not true but he believes these things to be true. He picks up papers and thinks they say things that they don't he crys all the time about things that has happened and about things that havent. He has never talked or acted like this before we have tried to get him help with mental health but that is pretty much worthless he has made comments that are questionable that he may put his life in danger or others but when the people ask him he says he's OK and he wouldn't hurt himself i think he has battle with in himself with the good and the bad, he can't sleep. I know he is not on drugs because he wouldn't be any where near us if he was he goes off by himself in his own mind and he don't answer or even see us. We don't know what to do he crys for help and says he needs help.we don't know what to do to help him this is not him and he said he don't know whats going on and he just wants it to stop.. and all of this started after this accident any suggestions at this point would be helpful to get him that will help and not throw in a cell. I believe a few things happened when this firework went off but I know this is not him and we feel something changed who he was and it seem to be progressing as the days go by he has alot of the symptoms mentioned for PSTD, ADHD, TMI, addiction and so on. Please help where to start

Meg S replied on

I've been noticing that after multiple head injuries due to work, that my mild autism/spectrum quirks are become more pronounced. Things that I could rationalize as something not to do it public are almost impossible to control. I rock more noticeably, I self soothe/stim to the point of becoming too distracted to work. I feel scatter brained and "dumber " via slurring my words and misspeaking (saying butter instead of berry/ thermostat instead of thank you)

My company has threatened to fire me if I take anymore sick time due to Norovirus... i feel lost.

Marie replied on

*May cause triggers. My ex was abusive. On one occasion, he repeatedly beat my head on a cement floor, which was covered with indoor/outdoor carpeting. Maybe 1/4" thick. The back of my head, and behind my ear was swollen at a minimum of three days. The back of my head was also "introduced" to walls regularly. The Neurologist said that I was fine. I am not. I have little to no time recollection (I say it was a month ago, when it was last week), and I have a great challenge with remembering simple items. Please advise me. I have also become very antisocial and am brutally honest with zero filter.

Rpc.. replied on

How do I as a person, with an diagnosis of PTSD before my TBI; differentiate the symptoms? How do I or my physician treat the symptoms medicinally if the symptoms are caused by 2 different factors?

Ed replied on

I had a head injury two years ago. My life has changed. I feel alone in my battle. Once I was a clear thinker, calm, kind and loved life. I have a wonderful family but I find myself lashing out, in a fog or confused, forgetting the simplest tasks and fear this will be the rest of my life. I have been seen by many doctors who are wonderful yet this invisible injury is one only I understand.

Joel replied on

I had a head injury in 2012 from a blast in Afghanistan. I struggle with the same problems. I have also seen a lot of doctors and received some great help. I do feel like the only people who know what it's really like are other people with a TBI.

I hope you can find someone you can talk openly with.

Sharon replied on

Please check to see if there is a local chapter of the ‘Brian Injury Association’ for your state. Or look online, go to Brain Injury Association of America (biausa.org) for information and resources. It was 2 years before I discovered this organization, their resources and the support systems that are available. Best thing I could have done for myself and my husband. Best wishes for continued recovery.

Mike replied on

I need help, a little over a year ago I was hit in face/head by a tree, it knocked me out for several minutes. I was cleared at the hospital the day of, but since then I have changed and not really noticed but yet have noticed. I'm a self-employed plumber, I'm losing customers because I forget a lot, I will take drugs time to time, pain pills mainly, I lie for no reason, told wife and family I had cancer, don't have reason for it, they think I'm on drugs, I have seizures, cry for no reason. I'm losing everything, my family, work now in debt wasn't like this before. I need direction. Please help?

Leigh replied on

Ask your Primary care doctor for a Neurology consult. You probably need an EEG to define brain damage and possibly an MRI if there is one from before your head injury that they can compare it to. Anything you were (emotionally) before the accident can be intensified or changed. Your abilitites to reason and cope can be decreased. Behavioral therapy and family can help with that but commitment is they key. You have to do your part. My husband suffers from TBI post car accident. He was out a short time but he has had several concusions in past years and the effects at 47 years old are showing up. He's angry, unreasonable, short term memory is shot, and he suffers from sleep apnea. When you sleep your body restores so everything has to be in alignment. Medications can help a lot. Please see a doctor. Your issues are legitimate post TBI symptoms. It can get worse before it gets better. Find a support group. They have tons of resources. I hope you can find the answers you need.

Angela oneal replied on

My boyfriend of almost 2 years fell about 13 feet knocking himself unconscious. The next day, a copper pipe fell and hit his head leaving a cut on his eyebrow. He started getting intense headaches and sharp pains in his head. Then he started being cruel to me and saying things that you don't say to people. He loses things all the time. The last thing I noticed is after yelling at me five minutes later he didn't understand why I was mad at him. He has never seen a doctor. Now I don't know if I could get him to go. He acts like he hates me. What can I do?

SC replied on

He either goes to the doctor, and starts dealing with his issues, or you end the relationship. Give him the choice and let him make the decision.