I experience the same thing. I don't believe it's psychological at all. The white on the screen is VERY difficult for me to view then add the movement
and the sound and I can only handle a fewe minutes. I haven't watched tv, listen to music in my house or car for 18 months. I keep trying...but all I
want to do is be in the dark, quiet room with a pillow over my head. Have
you read the book "Stroke of Insight"? If not, check it out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by nwsmith1984
This is just an experiment...I'm not sure if its going to be beneficial or not.
Why can't I watch TV or play video games? I'm 9 months into my recovery...I should be able to do that by now...right? Wrong.
Let me explain. I was an avid gamer pre-injury. I was absolutely addicted to my X-Box 360 and was in the video game store at least once or twice a week. I spent countless hours gaming...online and offline. It was one of my favorite things to do.
I was injured in June of 2011. My life changed that day...I spent 3 days in the hospital and about 3 weeks in bed. After I was able to walk and the pain subsided...I felt like I was my normal self again. I went back to playing video games and watching TV. Those two things didn't cause me any problems...at all. Even after my symptoms showed up in September, I spent another 2 months playing without it aggravating my cognitive or physical symptoms.
Then, in November, I played a new game that I bought all day. When I turned the game off...I was a complete space cadet for an entire week. Ever since that day, I've been unable to play games or watch TV without bringing on extreme, long lasting brain fog.
I'm fed up...I want to play my games and watch TV again. My neurologist told me the other day that he thinks its psychological. I think that part of it is, but not all of it. I have a theory...I think ever since that day I played all day and spent an entire week in space...it scared the crap out of me and every time I've tried again and felt a little spacey, I turned the TV/game off so it doesn't happen again.
Anyhow, when I told my neurologist that I can't watch TV and play games he said..."Yes you can. Why not? You THINK that you can't". He said I'm not having seizures...so...I hope that he's right.
I also think that since its been so long since I've watched TV or played a game, my brain is just not used to it anymore....so....
...today, I started watching TV again. It got me spacey...and messed me up cognitively, but I noticed if I watched for 5-10 minutes, took a break, and watched for another 5-10 minutes...It wasn't as bad. Each time I did that, I could watch it for longer and longer.
Now...I'm playing a simple 2D fighting game on my X-Box. It was space cadet city the first round. So, I took a break. Now I'm able to last a whole round or two before I need to take a break.
I guess I'll find out if its messing me up when I wake up tomorrow. I really hope not...I'd love to dust my controller off and start playing again. I'd love to watch a movie with my girlfriend.
TV and video games have anti-anxiety properties.
We shall see...
Nick
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