Whether you have suffered from a brain injury or know someone who has, understanding it can be extremely difficult because the human brain is so complex. The brain is comparable to being the ‘Major Sargent’ of all organs because it is ‘in charge’ of our movements, senses, thoughts, words, and emotions. Essentially, the human brain controls what we do and defines who we are.

In spite of having so much control and power over the human body, the brain is extremely sensitive and delicate. In saying that, when a person has suffered brain trauma of some sort (whether it be from a motor vehicle accident, playing sports or from falling), it can result in a multitude of implications. In more mild cases, a brain injury can be classified as a concussion but in other cases however, the head trauma can be categorized as a traumatic brain injury.

Over recent years, the seriousness surrounding brain injuries has been gaining hype, especially with professional athletes sustaining career-ended concussions. Depending on the circumstances and severity of symptoms initially presented, brain injuries are often overlooked and go undiagnosed until later on when a person’s symptoms remain persistent.

In saying that, here are eight important facts to know about brain injuries:

Loss of consciousness is not necessary for a person to sustain a brain injury.
A concussion is considered to be a mild traumatic brain injury. After a person has suffered from a concussion, they are much more susceptible of sustaining multiple concussions later on if they do not take appropriate rehabilitative measures.
Every brain injury is unique and is treated on a case-by-case basis simply because the human brain is so complex.
The severity of a person’s brain injury does not necessarily predict functional outcome. The size and location of the injury, its cause, and a person’s pre-injury functioning are other variables that play an imperative role in a person’s recovery outcome.
In most brain injury cases, the frontal lobes are affected which are the areas of the brain that control a person’s thoughts and emotional regulation.
Brain injuries can have physical, cognitive, emotional and/or behavioural consequences. A person does not always have to show physical signs of impairment to have suffered from a brain injury.
Since the brain is so complex and controls the human body – brain injuries differ significantly from other injuries like a broken bone or sprained ankle. Implications following a brain injury can be significant in a person’s life because it can dramatically impact all aspects of their life.
The length of the healing process may seem daunting and infuriating in itself so it can bring about may psychological challenges. A person who has suffered from a brain injury is more susceptible to experiencing depression, anxiety, and anger.

In any case where the brain is concerned, the recovery process will be different for each person and it is important to err on the side of caution. At times, it can seem like a long and challenging journey but it is important to understand that life after a brain injury is not the ‘end-all-be-all’ but that it may need to be recreated and accepted as something new.