Traumatic Brain Injury, often referred to as TBI, is an acute injury to the brain with both short- and long-term consequences to mental abilities and personality structure. A brain injury can be classified as either mild or severe. TBI can be categorized as mild when there has been a loss of consciousness, disorientation and/or confusion for less than thirty minutes. Although this type of injury is termed “mild”, this is somewhat of a misnomer. Mild TBI can have chaotic and devastating effects on an individual and his/her family. Mild TBI, which we sometimes see paired with a substance use disorder, can result in cognitive difficulties such as headache, attention deficits, mood swings, frustration, difficulty thinking, and memory problems. There may also be sleep disturbances, irritability, and feelings of depression. Part of what makes TBI difficult to treat is that patients sometimes do not realize such an injury has occurred, and thus do not recognize the need for treatment, treatment compliance, and supportive services.
At Milestones Ranch Malibu, we understand how devastating it can for be for individuals suffering from mild TBI, as well as those who love them. For a client seeking treatment for a substance use disorder who has also suffered a mild TBI – once that client has received thorough rehabilitative care and is stabilized – we can assist with mild cognitive deficits and behavioral substitutions as part of the treatment plan for substance abuse recovery. Our expert medical staff works closely with our experienced and caring clinicians to provide the best supportive treatment.
We hope the information contained in this article has been helpful to you. Please feel free to contact us at Milestones Ranch Malibu with any questions or comments you may have. Call: (800) 791-6859 for assistance.