From broken bones to nerve damage, car crashes can cause a variety of injuries. A common injury following any automobile accident, though, is a traumatic brain injury. If you hit your head on a hard surface or your car’s airbag, you may sustain one. The same is true if a loose object in your vehicle smashes into your head or your brain moves forward rapidly.
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons reports that there are approximately 1.7 million TBIs in the United States every year. Of these, between 50% and 70% happen in car accidents. While you may expect to experience a variety of symptoms with a TBI, you may not realize your mental health may be in jeopardy.
A common symptom
Within the first year of sustaining a TBI, roughly half of individuals experience some type of depression. Some with TBI-related depression report experiencing it even years after the initial injury. While depression may be minor, it is often severe. That is, you may experience a general feeling of sadness, a lack of motivation, concentration difficulties or even suicidal thoughts.
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