RAllen - I haven't heard of that treatment, but I hope it works for you if you pursue it.
I am so sorry to hear about your suffering. I have also struggled with anxiety - the feeling of being on edge and very far away from peace for no discernible reason other than having a brain injury, and I know how miserable it is.
I'm six months post injury, and while I still have bad days and nights, the anxiety has gotten a lot better for me. I've found the book Brainlash very comforting in this regard. The author describes the feeling of agitation as a stage of recovery. You won't have to stay this way for ever. It will pass.
While everyone is different, and I hope you end up getting great results from Zoloft, I will say that I tried it twice under the supervision of two different doctors, both a Neurologist and a Psychiatrist, post concussion and both times it made me feel horrible - rapid weight loss, days in bed, tinnitus louder than usual etc.
The third doctor I saw, a physiatrist at the rehab hospital who specializes in brain injury, took me off zoloft and put me on Amantadine. It's hard me to say whether this or just time has helped, but I know the Zoloft wasn't helping. I've learned after giving something a fair shot, to trust my body and speak up to doctors about what's working or not working for me. I did so just this week when melatonin was making me whoozy in the evenings, and the doctor cut my dose in half. They should be helping you suffer less, not more.
To relax myself outside of medication, I listen to Tara Brach's relaxation meditations and I find they genuinely help. There is even a part where she talks about smiling as a way to turn off your body's fight/flight response.
I also do acupuncture once a week and have found that this helps me to relax. I also got one cranio sacral massage, during which my stomach started rumbling and the practitioner mentioned that digestion was a sign that my body was moving from fight/flight to digestion and relaxation.
Yoga and light cardio (eliptical machine at 120 - 130 heart rate) also help.
Knowing that everyone and every concussion is different, I just wanted to share with you what has worked for me in dealing with the horrible symptom.
Hang in there. It will get better!
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Originally Posted by RAllen82
Has anyone heard of this? Have personal experience or any information? I'm desperate. I don't know why I'm thinking this therapy is even feasible as I probably can't afford it. But, I've been in contact with the MD that does this and he seems to want to help. His name is Dr. Tessler and he is in Colorado which is many states away from me.
When I had my accident I didn't have health insurance and racked up the cost of two ER visits. Ouch. However, I can't continue on like this. I feel like this has been going on for two months and now my brain "thinks" this constant anxiety state is normal. I don't ever have a clear mind and think about PCS and it's effects constantly. I'm fearful of going crazy. How do I stop the repetitive thoughts?
The Zoloft is horrible and I hate it. I haven't tried another drug because my MD thought this one is best. My family is supportive but are adamant that I need to stay on the medications. I know there are many that have dealt with the mental state change that comes along with some PCS sufferers.
Thank you.
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