Anger, irritability and mood swings
After a brain injury, it is common to feel upset or angry more often than you did before it happened. It is normal to experience a range of emotions as you face challenges resulting from your injury. However, if you find that you cannot control feelings such as anger or other strong emotions, it can be hard for you and those around you. Many people find that they are more irritable; some have trouble controlling their temper or find that their emotions fluctuate between extremes.
“I’m on a short fuse.”
“I seem to cry for no reason.”
“It’s like being on an emotional rollercoaster.”
If any of these issues are affecting you, we hope you will find this information useful.
We have written it to help you understand more about the ways a brain injury can affect how you feel and act. We also give suggestions for practical things you can do.
Suggest to friends, family or other people supporting you, to read this page also. There are tips for what they can do below. If, after reading this page and trying the tips, you do not see any improvements, getting professional help may be beneficial. You will find contact details for a range of relevant professionals under Help and Information.