Everything changed after my husband’s first deployment. I was aware of the fact that some veterans struggled with PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI), but I didn’t know much about those topics. After Mark returned from Afghanistan in 2012, I began researching because I wanted to have a better understanding of his struggles.
Top Myths About Traumatic Brain Injury
Looking back, I had some misconceptions until I educated myself. I think they are quite common and I wasn’t alone in my assumptions. One of the keys to our veterans becoming healed is for others to have a better understanding of their suffering. So below I share five classic myths about TBI and the truths behind them.
- A mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is not serious. After all, it’s classified as “mild.” This was the biggest myth that I believed. My eyes were closed to the fact that Mark was still experiencing residual symptoms of the injury several months after coming home. Once I stopped believing this myth, things made more sense. The classification of “mild” refers to the injury itself, not the residual symptoms. [1]
- If you have a brain injury, it will show up on a brain scan. Not always. It depends on the severity of the injury, how soon the scan was performed, and the type of technology used. [2]
- There has to be physical impact or penetration in order to sustain a brain injury. Never underestimate the power of an IED or RPG blast. The force from those types of explosions is so strong that they can rattle the brain without any physical contact. A TBI can also be sustained by the head being knocked around in a vehicular accident, even while wearing protective gear. My husband has experienced both instances.
- If you’re going to counseling for PTSD, that will take care of the TBI, too. It is true that PTSD and TBI share many of the same symptoms. [3] But “talking it out” is not the proper therapy for a brain injury. Because TBI is a physical injury, physical treatment is what works. At the same time, remember that when a person sustains a TBI on deployment, the probability of developing PTSD from that traumatic event is high. So both physical and behavioral health therapies are needed if PTSD and TBI are co-morbid (occurring at the same time).
- If your soldier is going to work, getting good evaluation reports, and is “deployable,” he must be okay. Unfortunately, not all combat injuries are obvious or visible. This was the exact rationale that I held for MONTHS. Mark is performing well at work, he’s getting superb OER’s, and he’s functional. He has to be FINE. But what about those times your soldier repeatedly forgets simple information? Or has trouble controlling his anger or emotions? Or has splitting headaches and insomnia? Those (and more) are signs of a traumatic brain injury and cannot be ignored. Remember, a brain injury IS a physical wound – we just can’t see it.
Healing for Our Veterans and Military Families
As a Registered Nurse, I have a passion for helping milspouses, veterans, and their families live their healthiest lives – in spite of the stress of military life. Our brain health is a key part to being our best selves. Talking about PTSD, TBI, and other similar topics is not always comfortable, but it’s necessary. If you need a battle buddy or mentor with regards to these things, please reach out to me. I have also put together an informative checklist about living with PTSD. It’s free, and you can receive it by entering your name and email below.
What are the myths about TBI that you believed?
References:
[1] https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/problems/traumatic_brain_injury_and_ptsd.asp
[2] https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/tbi.pdf
[3] https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/problems/traumatic_brain_injury_and_ptsd.asp