Kim,

You have not offended me at all with your comments. My claim about 'once concussed, always concussed ' is based on scientific research. The concussed brain will always have a residual level of injury. As I say, it may not show up until the person is under stress or reaches middle age, but it needs to be understood as the nature of an injured brain.

The appearance of a full recovery is just that. It is to be grasped with enthusiasm with an intent to pursue a full life. But, taking new risks or making life style choices should be with the understanding of an injured brain in the equation.

Up until 2001, I lived my life as if I did not have an injured brain.

Except, I had to stop flying airplanes. My brain could not tolerate the altitudes.

I had to make career choices that were different than those I could have chosen had my brain been able to tolerate higher stress levels.

The one area of my life that I did not understand was the tendency to have emotional explosions. When they happened, it was as if I could not control them. Now, I know how to recognize the stress that could lead to an explosion. I can usually make choices to prevent the outburst.

As much as any of us want to see a full recovery for ourselves and the others who post here, we also would not wish our experience on our worst enemies.

Most have only been through one episode of PCS. I have been through 6 episodes of PCS. All of my previous episodes had good recoveries but not full recoveries. I made some changes starting in 1974 when I was first living on my own and needing to be accountable for my own welfare.

As I become more overwhelmed with PCS since 2001, my family started relating the changes in personality and other behaviors that they witnessed as my concussion count progressed.

My history fits well into the normal progression of multiple concussions.

As much as I tried to avoid risks of hitting my head and made small career decisions, there is much that I did not understand. A more in depth understanding of the progression of PCS would have greatly benefited my life and the life of many around me.

I have not only the perspective of the injured person but also the perspective of the caregivers, family and others impacted by the injured person's actions. Those around me have been very open with their observations of both me and others in our circle of friends and family.

I have witnessed friends who have suffered concussions and never understood their PCS who have progressed to mental illness from the damage their brains received from their continued struggles with life. Some simple life style choices/changes could have benefited them greatly.

My wife participates in a Brain Injury Support Group caregivers/family sub-group. She sees how my struggles are very similar to the struggles the others face. The most common problem mentioned is the injured person's defiance to moderate their life to reduce their symptoms or their negative impact on others.

We know face to face, at least 30 brain injured people and their families/caregivers. There is a wide range of injuries but the life struggles are all very similar.

The common TBI/mTBI therapy and counseling rarely has a forward looking focus. Most of the deeper and more forward looking understanding comes from the group interacting and learning things that the professionals never consider.

I wish I had known back in the mid 70's half of what I know now. I would have been able to make much better life decisions.

We have a friend who took 3 miserable months to recover from a concussion. Her observations helped her make some major changes that improved her life.

Swimming against the current of PCS can be miserable. Learning to swim with the current of PCS is much easier and more full-filling.

My best to all as you try to understand how to swim with the current.