Brain Trauma and Affairs

January 4th, 2008 · No Comments

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There are many reasons for affairs. Although some traditionalists use the blanket response that it is a character issue, such reasoning does not address the issues the way they need to be addressed. The spouses involved in the affair, their family and friends will each be looking for short answers to explain the events and somehow get their ‘home team’ off the hook. The pain is not enjoyable for anyone. I can understand the desire for short answers as a way to provide an explanation and reduce the pain.

One area where the short answers do not settle matters is in the case of brain traumas. With some brain traumas, the brain is damaged. When the brain is severely damaged, the usual mechanisms that hold drives and desires in check often become ineffective. Not all trauma will produce these effects, but some do leave the person more vulnerable to affairs, and sexual acting out that they would not have considered prior to the event. People do not often think about brain trauma and affairs as associated, but some relationship does exists. Does this mean that all people who have affairs are brain damaged? NO. What it does mean is that some of the people with brain damage are more likely to have affairs after the trauma. Trauma can put pressures on the brain that re-wire parts of it. When spouses and families are looking for explanations for an affair, they often do not consider brain traumas. If the affair happened after a severe wreck or accident, this is an option that you will want to discuss with your healthcare providers. When selecting a healthcare provider, make sure that they understand the physical and psychological aspects and ramifications of trauma.

Best Regards,

Jeffrey Murrah