You could argue that it is your memories that make up much of your personality and who you are. Your experiences shape you. The memories of people close to you form your social circle. Your memories could play a pivotal role in your career and professional success.
This is just one reason that traumatic brain injuries are so frightening. They can lead to loss of these memories, which may feel like losing a part of yourself. It’s very disconcerting and there is a chance that you will never recover those memories.
Generally, the loss of memory starts at the very moment that you incur the traumatic brain injury. Medical experts call this post-traumatic amnesia. In some cases, it only covers a few minutes; you remember slipping on a ladder, for instance, and then waking up in an ambulance. However, with more severe injuries, it can cover weeks or even months.
In many cases, your brain simply does not store memories related to these traumatic events. So, if you experience an injury and you can’t remember what happened, the memories may never come back. They do not exist. You’ll have to talk to outside sources to learn what happened. Watching a video of the event may feel like you’re watching someone else entirely.
Memory loss is just one ramification of a serious brain injury. You may also have cognitive or emotional issues moving forward. Some TBIs impact your mobility. All brain injuries are different, but they should all be taken very seriously. If you have been hurt on the job, make sure you are well aware of the legal options you have.