Social skills and confidence can both be affected following an acquired brain injury.
Social skills and confidence can both be affected following an acquired brain injury.
Social skills are a complex system of behaviours that determine how well we communicate with others. Our ability to do this is just one of the many life skills that can be affected by brain disorders such as traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Social skills are the foundation for getting along with others.
When they are lacking, it becomes difficult to maintain friendships and make new ones. It is also harder to relate to others in the workplace, learning environments and the wider community. People with an acquired brain injury need help in identifying and rebuilding lost social skills.
Those who have sustained frontal lobe damage can lose self-awareness and insight. At the same time, orbitofrontal damage (injury to the very front of the brain) can disrupt an individual’s ability to inhibit unwanted responses such as inappropriate anger or sexual expression.
Social skill deficits may be related to the following:
Social skills are something we learn and develop with social reinforcement from the people around us. It is important that those with brain injury have feedback from others in order to relearn the skills they have lost. Bear in mind that the learning process can be a challenge when a person is also experiencing mood swings, depression or overreaction as a result of an acquired brain injury.
Social skills training is a form of behavior therapy used to help people who have difficulty relating to other people. A social skills program will start with an evaluation of the strengths and weakness of a person’s ability to function socially. Intervention strategies will then be selected and put in place to address areas of need.
It is important that the physical and social environment is adjusted to create positive interaction. For example, family, friends and work colleagues are likely to be more accepting once they are educated on the effects of a brain injury on social skills.
Using effective ways to teach skill development will also improve a person’s chance of rebuilding lost skills. Finally, a person’s ability should be assessed and interventions modified continually throughout the program.
Here are some tips if you are unable to access a social skills trainer:
ENLIST THE HELP OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS
This may involve teaching them about acquired brain injury and the effect is has had upon you. Some people may not accept that you have lost skills. On the other hand, others may be prepared to accommodate even severely inappropriate behavior. You may need to ask people to be more critical, and to give you more feedback in the home so that you can relearn how to act appropriately in the community.
JOIN A PEER SUPPORT GROUP
Some groups are for everyone with a brain injury, but there are also groups for specific causes of brain injury – for example, motor vehicle accidents or stroke. Contact Synapse to find a peer support group in your local area.
WATCH OTHER PEOPLE
Don’t be too obvious about this! The best way of learning social skills is to practice them, but the second-best way is to watch other people. Of course, not everyone you watch will behave appropriately – a good tip is to avoid reality television and focus on busy public places. Sit at a café in a shopping centre and watch the world go by.
It is natural for people to lose self-confidence following a brain injury. The injury itself can lead to depression and fatigue, which have a major impact on self-esteem.
A group of brain injury survivors once met to discuss and find strategies for issues such as self-confidence.
They agreed that confidence arose from:
Brain disorders such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) were seen as having an impact in all these areas, therefore self- esteem was likely to be affected.
The group found that the degree of understanding shown by people close to them and the reaction of the general public made a big difference to how they felt about themselves.
Families who understood the effects of the brain injury and were supportive instead of critical played a major part in the brain injury survivor feeling more confident. This issue was a difficult one when there were no outward visible signs of a brain injury, such as a wheelchair or facial scarring. In these cases families were more likely to be critical of the survivor’s cognitive problems.
Those who constantly compared their current situation with their situation before the brain injury had more trouble with self-confidence, as did those who could not cope with negative comments from others.
The group found that being assertive about their needs helped build confidence. By contrast, being either too passive or too aggressive had negative consequences.
A passive approach led to feelings of being ‘pushed around’ and meant agreeing with others despite personal feelings. This often led to resentment and levels of distress building up over time.
The aggressive approach was viewed as people ‘getting their own way’ by arguing, making demands, threatening and generally stepping on others. This behaviour was thought to lead to social isolation.
The group found that being assertive in a positive way involved two-way communication where problems were solved and the message put across in a way that allowed people to feel good about themselves. Survivors knew that they needed to work on communication skills so that they could see the other person’s viewpoint and know how to approach topics appropriately.
The group agreed that body language was an important part of being assertive, including: maintaining eye contact, straight body posture and calm speech. Sometimes it helped to practice what they had to say to someone else.
Survivors often feel that they needed to relearn social skills lost after their brain injury. Regaining these skills can be vital to maintaining existing friendships and making new ones. They include:
BEING PREPARED TO LISTEN TO THE OTHER PERSON
If someone is tired or in a particularly upset mood, it is better if they calmly tell the other person that they are unable to listen, rather than trying to listen when unable to concentrate. The other person may appreciate the suggestion of another time that will be more suitable.
LISTENING AND CLARIFYING
It was considered important that people give their full attention when listening and ask for more information when needed, e.g. ‘I don’t follow, can you explain more clearly?’
ACKNOWLEDGING THE OTHER PERSON AND LISTENING EFFECTIVELY
This was considered an important part of letting the other person know they have been heard and understood. The best way to do this is by acknowledging their ideas and feelings, e.g. nodding or saying ‘I realise that you must be really frustrated about this too’, or, ‘I can see where you are coming from’.
People who have survived a traumatic brain injury or similar brain disorder have suggested the following personal strategies for feeling better about themselves:
Some survivors have found mantras useful. These are personal statements or affirmations that can help you get through a tough time. Some examples are:
Some take comfort in the centuries-old prayer: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
Having a social life and pursuing interests make life worthwhile and are important to consider following brain injury.
Read moreResuming an independent lifestyle safely after a brain injury is an important goal. This goal should be approached in stages based on individual needs and abilities.
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