Fatigue, Irritability, Moodiness

Why do I get so exhausted and moody after brain injury and how can I help it?

Do you get angrier since your brain injury? Do you lash out even though you don’t want to? Are you often fatigued, even exhausted? These are common problems after brain injury. It can get better.

Debra’s story:

I put my head through the windshield in a car accident. I had bleeding in my brain and was out of it for a few days. I went home from the hospital because I was “better”. I didn’t have any physical injuries and my family and friends thought everything was fine.

Before my injury, I was an administrative assistant. I was organized and never forgot anything. I was calm, even in stressful situations.

After my injury, things didn’t go so well. If my boss told me to do something, I often forgot to do it. If I had to do more than one thing, I was lost. I forgot the names of my co-workers. I was exhausted by about 10 am. I lost my job. My family was often angry with me. I looked like I always did. But I did not act like I always did.

When I cannot do what I could, I get frustrated and angry. Sometimes I throw things. I have put holes in the walls. I want so badly to be organized. I want to be what I was. Even though I try so hard, my brain will not do it. Sometimes the harder I try the more anxious I get. Then it is worse.

Nobody gets it. People do not seem to understand that you can look normal and not be. They think I am lazy, that I am nasty, that I could change if I worked harder.

Why do you get fatigued and irritable after a brain injury?

After any injury to the brain, your brain is less efficient than before the injury. Mental processing is often slower. You may struggle with attention or memory. Planning is often more difficult. Your brain needs to work harder to think.

When you try to do what you previously did, it takes much more brain energy. This leads to fatigue or exhaustion. You may feel exhausted even when you are not doing much.

This is FRUSTRATING! When any of us are frustrated, we get irritable. When we are exhausted, we also get irritable. Then we lash out, sometimes even explode. Then we beat ourselves up. And this makes it worse.

What makes this worse?

After a brain injury, we want to do what we always did, live like we previously did, and accomplish things we always did. This is human nature. So we go full force ahead. But remember, after an injury brains are not as efficient. Your brain needs to work much harder to do what it previously did. So going full force ahead does not work. Doing too much is the number one enemy after brain injury.

How can this get better?

· Be aware that this happens.

· Watch yourself: are you starting to get overwhelmed or agitated?

· Learn your limits.

· Minimize overstimulating situations.

· Tell others you need quiet time.

· Take regular brain breaks.

· Use a planner and schedule your day.

· Keep a routine as much as possible.

· Give yourself a break. This is not your fault.

Taking a brain break (spending a few quiet minutes) every hour or two helps your brain to get the rest it needs.

Keeping a routine for some of your everyday tasks helps your brain work less and be more efficient. For instance, if you keep your keys and wallet in the same place you do not need to spend mental energy looking for them. This saves more mental energy for other tasks.

Using a planner and scheduling your day helps you not do too much. You can schedule the most important things and leave out less important things. Be sure to schedule brain breaks, the most important part of your day.