October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Domestic violence and intimate partner violence are a common cause of traumatic brain injury. Potential causes of brain injury from domestic violence include, but are not limited to, being punched in the face or head, hit the head with an object, pushed against a wall or another hard surface, shaken violently, falling and hitting the head, strangled/choked. One injury can lead to another. Did you know that after one TBI, the risk for a 2nd is THREE times greater? After two TBIs, the risk is EIGHT times greater. Repeated mild TBIs occurring over an extended period (i.e., months, years) can result in cumulative neurological and cognitive deficits. Repeated mild TBIs occurring within a short time (i.e., hours, days, or weeks) can be catastrophic or fatal.

A chronic state of stress can slow down the healing process of the brain and add to other symptoms of mental health, which may become more noticeable. The risk of PTSD and major depression after a mild TBI is much greater, and post-concussive symptoms can last for months. This often creates significant problems for survivors as they attempt to gain or regain their independence after injury or even return to their everyday routines. Overlapping symptoms of TBI and PTSD include irritability, insomnia, cognitive deficits, depression, fatigue, and anxiety. A domestic violence survivor with a TBI may have a short attention span, show poor follow-through on tasks, have difficulty maintaining positive relationships with others, have behavior/impulse control issues, and/or appear more confused, inattentive, and fatigued than others.

Addressing TBI among survivors of domestic violence can help promote empowerment and independence, resulting in improved recovery outcomes. Increased awareness of the connection between brain injury and domestic violence will allow for targeted screening/assessments and evaluations, permit accommodations within intervention approaches, lead to appropriate referrals and better outcomes for the survivors, and help advocates and supporters navigate an individual’s impairments in cognitive, behavior, and executive functioning to optimize their well-being.

Brittany Stratton, LCSW
BIS Counseling Department

Reference:

• https://braininjurysvcs.org
• https://www.cdc.gov/traumatic-brain-injury/index.html
• https://www.dshs.wa.gov/altsa/traumatic-brain-injury/tbi-and-domestic-violence
• https://www.americanbrainfoundation.org/domestic-violence-and-traumatic-brain-injury-the-chilling-truth-of-this-hits-home/