Excerpts

Why is Self Awareness Important?

Self awareness is the ability to view ourselves somewhat objectively. It is also the ability to see ourselves from the perspective of other people. It allows us to use feedback from others as we develop our personal identity. We rely on self awareness when we…

• interact socially with others
• decide what situations or information to share
• make judgments about ourselves
• act in ways that insure our personal safety

Brain injury can impair the critical capacity for self awareness. This can result in many problems for the individual who has been injured as well as the family. Research has shown that impaired self awareness often limits or slows down recovery. Individuals may not follow therapy recommendations or participate in supportive efforts because they do not recognize that they have a problem. Several studies have shown that employment outcomes for people with impaired self awareness are lower than for people who don’t experience this difficulty after brain injury.

The caregivers of people with brain injury who have poor self awareness also tend to report greater levels of stress. Caregivers may find themselves arguing with a person displaying unawareness when this person does not see or acknowledge the problem. This can be especially challenging when it involves personal safety or danger. Understanding the nature of unawareness and becoming familiar with some basic management strategies may help those who care for or treat people with awareness deficits.