Signs of Depression

Brain injury is so sudden and unpredictable that it is a truly devastating experience for many individuals and their families.   People often feel as if the rug has been ripped out from beneath them and they do not know how or when they will get their footing back. 

It is not unusual for the individual who has been injured, or for family members, to feel depressed after such a traumatic experience. 

Facts about depression and brain injury

—    People with brain injury are more likely to feel depressed than people without brain injury. 

—    Some people feel depressed and anxious at the same time.

—    These feelings may occur right after the injury or they can surface months or even years later. 

—    Some forms of depression only last for a short time, while other forms may last for a long time.

—    People who are aware of the losses and changes in their lives may be more likely to show signs of depression after a brain injury.

Everybody gets the blues now and then.  This is normal.  Depression is different.  It is a more extensive reaction.  The person has a low or depressed mood.  There may be a marked lack of interest or pleasure in activities that the person normally enjoys.  It is a sign of depression when these feelings are present most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks.

A person who is depressed may also show changes in at least four of the following patterns of behavior.  Check the boxes that apply to you or your family member.

o Major change in appetite (eating more or eating less)

o  Big weight loss not caused by deliberate dieting or a big weight gain

o  Lack of sleep or excessive sleep

o  Moving slower or faster than usual

o  Loss of energy, feeling fatigued

o  Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt

o  Difficulty making decisions or reduced concentration