Hi all,

It's been about 3 years since my last concussion, and overall I'm at a good place in my recovery. I am able to sleep well, attend school, do physical activity like running and dancing, etc. However, I'm still very sensitive to minor bumps, and this is something I would like to work on, because I think it is mainly a psychological rather than physical issue at this point (Concussion Anxiety Syndrome). Because even after 3 years of recovery, light contact such as hugs or placing my head on a pillow too hard can give me symptoms, even if I know logically that these bumps did not cause damage.

I was wondering if anyone has tried certain methods for desensitizing? One that has worked for me that I have done so far is wearing hats. In the year or so after my last concussion, simply wearing a hat would make me feel like I was damaging my brain and give me symptoms. But I decided that I would try to wear hats frequently, because I knew they weren't actually hurting me. And eventually, the symptoms lessened, and now wearing a hat doesn't give me symptoms at all.

I was wondering if anyone has suggestions for similar things? One thing I've thought about is maybe getting a beach ball and practicing dropping it on my head, because obviously beach balls are soft and only a few ounces so they would not cause damage, but they are big and very loud, so I think it might be a good way to simulate bigger bumps in a controlled environment. Maybe after I get used to the beach ball, I could progress up to a small pillow, etc.

Do you think this is a good idea, and do you have other suggestions? Anything that you have tried that has worked for you?

Thanks so much!