Motivation and initiation (Adynamia)
Some brain injuries can result in a loss of motivation and difficulty in getting started with activities.
Read moreStress and anxiety can trigger perseveration, or at the very least make it worse. Brain injury is just one of a variety of conditions in which perseverative disorders can occur. Others include Alzheimer’s disease, aphasia, schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease.
An example of perseveration is someone sandpapering a table until they’ve sanded through the wood, or a person who continues talking about a topic even when the conversation has moved on to other things. Another person might be asked to draw a cat then several other objects, but continue to draw a cat each time.
Perseveration can be treated through behavioural and cognitive training in a structured environment, and possibly by group therapy or medication.
When a person is perseverating they feel unable to stop. Others need to respond in a calm and supportive way as frustration will cause greater anxiety and make the situation worse.
Try redirecting the person by changing the topic of conversation, or asking them to try another activity. It is also helpful to direct a person from conversation to an activity and visa versa. This will help them to move on from the behaviour, speech or thoughts they are stuck on.
As with most aspects of a brain injury, staying healthy can help make the symptoms of perseveration easier to manage:
Some brain injuries can result in a loss of motivation and difficulty in getting started with activities.
Read moreA brain injury can affect attention or concentration abilities, leading to problems with work, study and everyday living.
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