Neuro Note #2 - Traumatic Brain Injury

 

I took the time to read the article titled, “When A Prisoner Returns Home with A Brain Injury, Freedom Isn't So Free” written by Christie Thompson and Joseph Shapiro about a man, Chuck Coma, who sustained an anoxic TBI during his time in federal prison after being assaulted by his cellmate. Chuck was a war veteran who suffered from PTSD after witnessing a grenade kill to men in his unit shortly after they arrived in Iraq. He experienced great discomfort from his disorder and eventually turned to alcohol and cocaine to self-medicate and bury his memories. His life took a turn as he obtained more and more criminal charges such as DUIs, drug possession, and assault. Eventually, he turned to armed bank robbery and suggested that maybe he found romance in the idea of being a bandit (it is suggested because the interview was gathered after his TBI).

Before the incident, Chuck had a sweet spot for his mother and was always very affectionate towards her. But when he returned home, he had outbursts of frustration and would often swear at and threaten her which was very unlike him. He also experienced confusion and would take off, requiring his mother to come after him. Once, she found him walking on the side of the road and then took a fall. As she tried to help him into the car, he screamed that he was being kidnapped by a woman, which resulted in him being admitted into a psychiatric hospital. Overall, Chuck’s symptoms following his TBI included tremors, lack of balance, intense irritability and frustration, and amnesia.

I chose this reading to further my learning because it pertains to the prison system, which I am usually interested to know more about since my dad was incarcerated for seven years. The reading opened my eyes even more to people’s experiences in federal prison, solitary confinement, and more importantly the effects a TBI can have on someone both long and short term. This relates to our course content because we have learned about the symptoms of his injury such as amnesia as well as decreased balance and tremors which can relate to the cerebellum’s functioning. Additionally, Chuck displayed the common symptoms of a TBI that relate to behavior which were combativeness and agitation. Lastly, as future OT practitioners, we may have a client who spent time in prison and it’s important get an understanding of their mental health and experiences from being there so we can offer the best care for every individual. I would recommend this reading to others because it is informative and offers the perspective of someone who had these experiences firsthand.  

References 

Thompson, C., & Shapiro, J. (2019, December 17). When a prisoner returns home with a brain injury, freedom isn't so free. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2019/12/17/788824775/when-a-prisoner-returns-home-with-a-brain-injury-freedom-isnt-so-free