Motivation, initiation and adynamia
Our ability to initiate activities and see them through to completion is an important skill for everyday life. This lack of motivation, also called adynamia, is common with injury to the frontal lobes that occurs after a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Initiation is an important part of motivation – it is our ability to get started on a task and something we all take for granted. In some cases, a person with brain injury needs verbal reminders and prompts to begin an activity. Further reminders are often needed to see the task through to completion.
Difficulties with motivation can impact on many areas of life such as rehabilitation, learning coping skills, social functioning and a return to work or study.
Social isolation can be a common outcome due to impacts on motivation to participate in activities or contact friends and family.