Many mothers and fathers go through the fear, frustration, and horror of watching their athletically inclined son decline through the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. Boys will be boys, parents tell themselves as boys rough-house, mess around, throw themselves into sports, and make impulsive decisions. Boys, it seems, will hit their heads, run their heads into hard objects, and find other ways to develop a concussion. The brain is not fixed within the skull. It sits in a shallow liquid, moving as we do. When you have an impact to your skull, your brain goes crashing against the hard bone structure. Like bashing your shin or whacking your arm into a hard object, the brain develops a bruise. This bruise is a concussion, causing chemical structures to change and brain cells to be damaged. Concussions, especially repeated concussions, can develop into a traumatic brain injury which causes a range of mental health symptoms and can lead to severe effects. Light has been brought to the subject of TBI and CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, because of the NFL. Football players particularly face repeated head trauma. Depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide have all been common trends of athletes living without treatment for brain injury.
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury and you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
If your son is demonstrating different behaviors, abusing drugs and alcohol, or acting in violence since a recent or past concussion, he may be struggling with the effects of TBI. It is critical to contact a medical professional as quickly as possible, or call Tree House Recovery for information on treatment. If symptoms have persisted for multiple weeks or months, treatment is necessary. If your son has developed a substance abuse problem, you can help him find freedom from addiction by entering him into a treatment program.
Through treatment, your son will learn about the neuroscience of the brain, how his traumatic injuries have affected his cognitive capabilities, and coping skills for managing his thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In the process, your son will engage in safe exercise, be supported by an experienced clinical staff, and receive treatments specific to TBI. Recovery is possible and manageability can be brought to you and your family. Don’t let the stigma of mental health keep you and your son from living the best life possible.
Tree House Recovery is a men’s treatment program located in Portland, Oregon. Creating sustainable recovery through sustainable change, our programs help men learn how to live sober with adventurous lives. Call us today for information: (503) 850-2474
