Practicing self-compassion can mitigate the long-term mental health impact of TBI
By John Rosseel. This article was initially published in the 9/25/25 Edition of our Concussion Update newsletter; please consider subscribing.
An article published by the Brain Health Association of America suggests that practicing regular self-compassion leads to the mitigation of mental health issues (anxiety, depression, etc) after a traumatic brain injury (including concussion). Kyla Pearce, PhD Director of Programs and Research at the LoveYourBrain Foundation, provides background information on self-compassion as well as the results of two studies, investigating the impact of Compassionate Focused Therapy (CFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), respectively. Dr. Pearce notes that both CFT and ACT help patients to “develop kinder thinking habits,” while ACT helps patients put emphasis on accepting negative emotions as a part of life. In a twelve-person study of CFT, researchers incorporated the therapy into the rehabilitation process post-injury. The participants determined that monitoring shame and self-criticism through CFT led to an easier reintroduction into life after their TBI. A ninety-three-person study of ACT split patients with mild to moderate TBI into an ACT program or an active control group for eight weeks. While the ACT participants received specialized therapy, the control group received traditional TBI rehabilitation. Dr. Pearce notes that participants who underwent ACT “experienced significantly greater reduction in psychological distress… and improvements in psychological flexibility.” In addition to these therapies, Dr. Pearce recommends practicing “meditation that emphasizes mindfulness and kindness,” and participating in community support programs. Notably, the free Love Your Brain Mindset program is still accepting applications; see the “Affinity Groups” section for concussion-specific groups.
Dr. Pearce argues that self-compassion is made up of three core components critical to the TBI recovery process: mindfulness, self-kindness, and common humanity. To practice mindfulness is to acknowledge feelings without letting them overwhelm you. The first step is to acknowledge feelings without spiraling into self-pity. This mental adjustment can calm depression and anxiety by giving emotions more perspective. The second is to practice internal, or self-kindness; while negative thoughts are inevitable, adjusting the emphasis from a negative to a helpful mindset can curb their impact. The final component is common humanity; to remember that an individual with TBI isn’t alone. Dr. Pearce encourages patients to reach out to those who are also struggling and find a community of support.
Dr. Pearce acknowledges that more research is needed to establish how self-compassion can impact the long-term mental health effects of TBI. She argues that these initial studies show promise and state, regarding TBI recovery, “common humanity is an antidote to shame, and mindfulness allows us to disentangle from intrusive memories and feelings.”