Head Injury Can Cause Anxiety Attacks And Depression
Posted by Sylvia on December 2nd, 2007
It’s a little hard to believe that a bump on the head could cause a brain injury, but it’s true. What’s more, it can lead to anxiety attacks and depression even after recovery.
A cyclist recently reported that he suddenly developed anxiety attacks after a hit and run accident. He was thrown from his bike and must have hit his head because he was unconscious for awhile. He was lucky because he was able to walk away, but he began to suffer anxiety attacks for the first time in his life. This incident has made him afraid to ride his bicycle on the roadway.
Some accident victims aren’t so lucky. They end up in a coma and have various levels of paralysis that never go away. Unfortunately, doctors can add to the resulting anxiety attacks and depression because they tend to be negative in their prognosis. Their reasoning is that they don’t want the patient to be too disappointed if they don’t have a full recovery, or at least one they can live with. If they do recover, this would be great news. It’s important, therefore, to find a doctor who can be realistic but still leave the patient and family members with hope.
Fighting the injuries is a struggle in itself. Fighting the depression and anxiety attacks adds to that struggle.
It’s important to pay close attention to any head injury, no matter how slight. If you have an accident involving your head, be alert to any changes in your emotional well-being, and especially negativity, depression and anxiety attacks that did not exist prior to the event.
The sooner you seek help for the depression and anxiety, the more quickly and effectively you will recover.