After getting diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), patients often hear one sentence over and over again: Give yourself time to heal. However, there are TBI treatment strategies to help shorten the healing period and put better health outcomes within reach. A psychiatrist can discuss strategies related to mental health, an important aspect of any TBI rehabilitation program.
TBI rehabilitation is a personalized type of treatment that helps patients manage the symptoms that can linger in the days, weeks, and months after sustaining a TBI. Since these injuries look different for everyone, the TBI treatment strategies a healthcare provider may incorporate into patients’ rehab plans will vary. Still, it is common to recommend the following:
The psychological effects of a TBI can take time to overcome, especially if it is a closed-head injury that does not leave a visible wound. Patients often report feeling like their family, friends, and coworkers do not understand the extent of their symptoms and why they need to take it slow. Further, they may find it overwhelming to even carry on a conversation with the brain fog and other cognitive impairments that come with TBIs. Sensory sensitivities, headaches, and fatigue, among other symptoms, can be frustrating to deal with as well.
Fortunately, a psychiatrist can help patients process the frustrations and limitations (however temporary) that come with a TBI. They can also assist patients experiencing injury-related mood swings or personality changes. This may be possible through therapeutic treatment strategies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches patients how to respond to their emotions and thoughts in healthier ways.
A psychiatrist may prescribe medications to manage TBI symptoms. For instance, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can produce therapeutic results in patients with mild TBIs (concussions) and depressive symptoms. On the other hand, a psychiatrist can recommend alternatives to medication for those with more severe TBIs or make adjustments to a patient’s other prescriptions as they navigate TBI recovery.
Treatment strategies can be used in the home to accommodate a patient’s TBI as they heal. The following tips may be recommended as part of a personalized treatment plan. However, note that most patients with TBIs benefit from these basic strategies:
A patient should inform a psychiatrist if they experience difficulty completing any of the above strategies. In an appointment, they can give professional advice so that the patient may protect their health. For example, they can discuss proper sleep hygiene, provide a doctor’s note requesting accommodations in the workplace, and guide patients who are having trouble temporarily quitting alcohol.
Traumatic brain injuries can have serious mental and emotional effects on an individual, but a psychiatrist can help manage them. With TBI treatment strategies, it is possible to make it through the healing period and feel more like yourself again. For more information, contact our New York office today.
Request an appointment here: https://www.hopetmsofny.com or call Hope TMS and Neuropsychiatric Center at (646) 578-8152 for an appointment in our New York office.
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