There was definitely a point where reading about brains and brain injuries gave me some anxiety, but that is not the case anymore. Stories of improvement give me hope. Plus, I would rather know what I’m up against, and find ways to make improvement. I would stop reading about brains and brain injuries, but I have no game plan. Time is not the ultimate healer in my case. I stopped pushing through symptoms a year ago, minus the really good week (that caused this setback) where I had some headaches. The concerning thing to me is that I have only made progress because of therapies and supplements this past year. On its own, my health only improves at such a slow rate, and that confuses me. I am extremely disciplined about taking breaks. I sleep well, anxiety is not an issue, I eat pretty well, I exercise when I can, and I have moderate amounts of stimulus.

“What tasks are you struggling to accomplish ? What happens when you hit a roadblock ?”

I can do lots of tasks, but in very small amounts of time. Like I’ve said, I overstimulate/flood very quickly--always around every 2 hours now--and need an hour or so break for the overstimulation to go away. I can either go for a walk, exercise, or need to be in a dark quiet room during my breaks. Some things cause me to overstimulate more quickly, like reading, playing guitar, and brain games. When I do those things, I have to switch tasks, and I do switch tasks. I’m trying to be as productive as possible because my time is limited, and I definitely understand that pushing through symptoms does not fit in the equation of being productive.

Because I overstimulate quickly and need breaks, many things are not realistic right now--a job and school.

“From my observation, it appears you come up against roadblocks and spin your tires trying to push through rather than look for a detour around it. That is extremely frustrating and counter-productive. Been there, done that, stunk up a Tee shirt doing it.”

Yes, that was me spot on for the first two years post-concussion. I have learned though. Minus a few bad days, this is my first setback in over a year. I thought I was working within my limits, but was obviously wrong. Regardless, I’m here right now with symptoms the way that they are, and I have to improve. I don’t know how I will improve though. That’s the hard part. Time is not my ultimate healer. I am considering seeing Dr. Zelinsky in Chicago, but that's honestly just part of the shotgun approach.

I sometimes wonder how much my schizoaffective disorder plays a role in my recovery. Anyways, thanks for taking the time to comment and share your ideas and knowledge.