Low Mood Following a Brain Injury

Experiencing low mood is common following a brain injury. This article discusses the relationship between low mood and brain injuries, activities to alleviate symptoms from home and interventions that a medical or mental health professional can provide.

This article was beautifully written by Vic, thank you.

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What is low mood?

Low mood is characterised by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, low self-esteem and feeling more tired than usual, or being unable to sleep. Sometimes people feel ashamed about struggling with low mood, but it is important to remember that it is common following a brain injury – almost 50% of brain injury survivors report experiencing low mood or depression (Bombardier et al., 2010).

Why does it happen?

There are two main reasons that a brain injury might cause low mood:

1.      Physical: the traumatic event can cause physical damage neural pathways in the brain which control thoughts, memory and emotions. This can affect neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that send messages in the brain.

2.      Emotional: low mood can be an emotional response to the frustrations and challenges associated with a brain injury, and navigating changing roles within the family and wider society

Prior experiences of depression, PTSD and alcohol problems increase the risk of low mood following a brain injury, particularly in women.

What can be done about low mood?

If you are experiencing low mood following your brain injury, it won’t go away on its own. It’s important to acknowledge how you are feeling and seek help from a mental health or medical professional, such as your GP.

You may be prescribed a type of antidepressant called a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) to help with your low mood symptoms. These medications work to increase the amount of serotonin neurotransmitters in the brain.

A range of therapies may be beneficial for your low mood, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT; changing the way you act, think and feel about things that have happened to you and how you see yourself), Behavioural Activation Therapy (BT; improving your mood by doing activities that you enjoy) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; using mindfulness-based exercises to accept your thoughts and feelings).

You may also find it beneficial to join a TBI support group, so that you can talk discuss your feelings and frustrations with people who are going through the same challenges as you.

At-Home Techniques

1.      Talk to the people around you about how you are feeling

2.      Engage in activities that you enjoy

3.      Exercise: this can be challenging if you experience fatigue or have limited mobility, but moving your body for just a few minutes every day can alleviate symptoms of low mood

4.      Try wellbeing techniques, such as mindfulness and journaling

5.      Create a self-care box of things that make you happy, such as photos of loved ones, a colouring book or a comfort film!

Finally, remember that experiencing low mood is not a sign of weakness, but it is a sign of strength to reach out for support.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please contact Samaritans at 116 123, or NHS 111.

References

Bombardier, C. H., Fann, J. R., Temkin, N. R., Esselman, P. C., Barber, J., & Dikmen, S. S. (2010). Rates of major depressive disorder and clinical outcomes following traumatic brain injury. JAMA, 303(19), 1938–1945. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.599

Bombardier, C. H., & Hart, T. (2025). Depression after traumatic brain injury [Factsheet]. Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center (MSKTC). https://msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/depression-after-traumatic-brain-injury.