Xoe22,

First off, you have been fed some very erroneous information. The six weeks recovery period is a falsehood. The grade 3 concussion has no bearing on recovery time either.

No matter what the doctors have prognosed, throw it all out of your mind. Your brain will heal as it feels fit.

It is appropriate that you have no clue when you will finish your Master's degree. I have an mTBI friend who has spent the past ten years working through his Bachelors degree and toward his Master's. He has another year to finish his Master's degree. And he works hard at it.

Studying and retaining information after a history of concussions is very problematic. It requires a completely different learning skill set that you used to get your Bachelor's degree pre-concussion. You are likely well into Multiple Concussion Syndrome. Your recovery after each successive concussion is much less complete.

At this point, I suggest you have two choices. Learn to reinvent yourself and pursue a less strenuous career or expect to spend a long arduous time completing your Master's. There is no way you can predict the outcome of the latter.

A short term option for you is humbling. Apply for Social Security Disability Income. The application process will be a great lesson in understanding your capabilities. The occupational psychologist will be able to give you some good ideas of your expected capabilities. Getting into the Disability Determination Service for your state will give you access to any support system available in your state.

The key issue you mentioned is this. You have good days and bad days with no rhyme or reason as to why you have each. This is common to PCS. There is no way to predict if this will ever change. For many of us, it is managed and tolerated, not overcome.

You need to accept the FACT that you need to stay off any athletic field or court. It is just too risky. There are plenty of concussions suffered on the basketball court.

Even thinking of trying a jump shot makes my head feel lousy. The jarring of a jog and the pounding as you try a lay-up and land back on the floor are too much for your head.

Being head ache free for two days means NOTHING. Being head ache free for two months is starting to show a trend.

You need to find a source of truth about managing Post Concussion Syndrome. You will look long and hard to find the truth with Sport Medicine specialists. Maybe one in a hundred or more truly understands concussions. The rest just think they do.

Don't trust an iMPACT test or other "return to play" testing system. They only give a false sense of security.

Have you watched the YouTube video series "You Look Great"? It is fabulous. Your friends and family all need to watch all 6 segments. The TBI Survival Guide at www.TBIGuide.com needs to be on hand to explain your condition to those who need to understand.

You mentioned that sometimes you wonder if this is all "just in your head." This is a very common thought. We all tend to doubt our condition from time to time. Maybe it is just wishful thinking. Then that mental wall comes and smashes us in the face and we realize, "No, this mental confusion is real and happening to me."

I hope you can accept this as a dose of current reality. Until you accept where you are, you can not get a foothold to move forward.

btw, Have you learned any coping skills or work-arounds to get through your day's tasks? There are many tips, tricks and techniques that help immensely.

My best to you.