Head Injuries and Anxiety or OCD

When a head injury occurs the impact that it has on the brain and respective neurological system can be widespread and long lasting. A common element in head injuries is inflammation or barrier damage. When the neurological system is inflamed or vulnerable anxiety or worsened OCD is not uncommon.

Types of Head Injuries:

• • • TBI (Traumatic Brain Injuries) - A brain injury caused by a hit, accident, or injury where the head and brain take a hit. They can be mild (concussion) to severe.
    • Infection - An infection that affects the brain or neurological system.
    • Neurological or Head Surgery
    • Autoimmune - A neurological autoimmune reaction.
    • Vascular - Events that cause vascular damage to the skull or brain, such as a stroke.
    • Neurologic - Conditions that disrupt neurological balance, such as seizures.

Why do head injuries cause anxiety?

A common theme of head injury is inflammation and disruption of the blood brain barrier. When the neurological system becomes dysregulated by inflammation or is vulnerable to irritating substances anxiety or worsened OCD is not uncommon.