I Have a What? A Guide for Coping with Moderate-to-Severe TBI

RRTC ON COMMUNITY INTEGRATION OF PERSONS WITH TBIMYTH: “There is no need to wear a seatbelt if I am just driving aroundthe corner.”FACT: Accidents occur more often near home. That is because you spendmost of your time near your home. Seatbelts should be worn at all times whentraveling in a vehicle.MYTH: “It is safer to be thrown clear from my vehicle than to betrapped.”FACT: It is safer to be trapped inside a wreck. Your chance of being killedincreases greatly if you are thrown out of the vehicle.MYTH: “I did not hit my head. It was just whiplash to the neck, so Icannot have a brain injury.”FACT: It is true that not everyone with whiplash has a brain injury. However,whiplash injuries can cause a brain injury even if there is no blow to the head.The force from the vehicle accident can cause the brain to move inside theskull. When the brain twists and/or hits the inside of the skull, this mayinjure the brain.MYTH: “I was not knocked out, so I do not have a brain injury.”FACT: A head injury can cause brain injury even if you are not knocked out.Sometimes, a person will experience a period of being confused or dazed. Evenwith a more severe injury, like a gunshot wound that goes through the brain,some individuals may not lose consciousness. Every TBI is unique.MYTH: “I anger easily and sometimes feel depressed and irritated. It’snot because of my brain injury; I just have a lot on my mind.”FACT: It is common for people with brain injuries to be easily angered and tosuffer from depression. Brain injury can cause changes in mood. Additionally,changes in family and work roles can lead to mood changes.Page 49