About the panic attacks.... my neurologist explained to me that many times one of the side affects of a brain injury is that your ability to handle stress is diminished. I've found this to be true, and it's affected my life pretty traumatically. I'm now taking klonopin daily.

About the alcohol? I don't tolerate it well anymore either. This is a good thing, from what other folks on this forum have told me. I've been told that alcohol slows down the brain from healing. I'm an ol' lady though- so my partying days are long over and I don't miss it much.

My first head injury was in June 07, so I think we hit our heads about the same time. I've noticed that I've been feeling tons better in the last two weeks and my brain capacity seems to be at almost 100%. Very important to me because my job requires it. My neurologist pushed me from the beginning to continue living my life normally. She told me that taking time off from work would be one of the worst things I could do- so I forged on. It's been an emotionally painful process at times and there were many times that I wanted to find a new neurologist so I could go on disability.

But, I seem to have weathered the storm (knock wood)- so I guess I'll keep her around.

It's been a frustrating journey and I've learned so much about myself through it all. I hope with every ounce of my being that one day I'll be back to the person I was. If not, then my next hope is that I'll learn to accept the person that I've become.

Stick around. This is a great group of people.