The Effect of Family History on Brain Injury
Psychology Today
by Shireen JeejeebhoyFebruary 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Effect of Family History on Brain Injury highlights the critical role family history plays in understanding and coping with the psychological and relational impacts of brain injury. The author shares their personal journey of recovering from a catastrophic brain injury, emphasizing how delving into their family’s past—especially its connection to intergenerational trauma—helped them make sense of their parents’ reactions to their injury. By exploring their roots, including their Zoroastrian and English heritage, the author gained insight into how historical events like WWII shaped their family’s behavior and coping mechanisms.
The article details the author’s unique background, revealing how their parents’ experiences during wartime influenced their approach to raising children. For example, the author’s father grew up in Burma during a time of safety and privilege but was later thrust into war and displacement, while the mother faced the trauma of German bombings as a child in England. These experiences left both parents emotionally guarded and focused on survival, teaching them to be self-sufficient and passing down high expectations, common in many Asian cultures. This intergenerational trauma, combined with the brain injury’s impact, created complex dynamics within the family.
Understanding these historical contexts is essential for recovery, as it helps individuals like the author make sense of their families’ often-unfathomable reactions to their injuries. The article also introduces an action plan from the author’s book, *Brain Injury,
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Originally published on Psychology Today on 2/14/2026