Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Peter,

A few weekend days are seriously inadequate to cause improvement. Improvement is measured over weeks and months. An improvement after a single or couple days of quiet rest is often fleeting. This roller coaster will likely continue. Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint or even a middle distance run.

You said, "mentally and socially. I want to get rid of the symptoms before it affects me any further." You have little or no control over your recovery. The only control you have is over the activity levels and other stimulations that will either work toward recovery or delay it.

For many of us, recovery started when we finally let go and gave up trying to hold on to our pre-concussion life. Imaging breaking your back at the waist and losing use of your legs. Fretting about needing to walk and play soccer will be counter to developing skills for over-coming the disability.

In time, you will be able to work at rebuilding your social life. In the mean time, your social life will likely work against your recovery. Your daily activity and work schedule needs to be modified to reduce all stimulations and stresses. Most stimulations and stressors will not be recognized as counter-productive at the moment. It will be the cumulative effect that will hold you back.

You may be able to endure going to the mall for Christmas shopping and think you did well. BUT, the next day, you may feel like a total zombie. That is normal PCS. Expect it to happen rather than wonder what happened.

What was "a ton of relaxing" like? Did you rest between activities or was your whole weekend low key?

Recovery is a system. Any system is no better than its weakest parts. 23 hours of quiet rest with 1 hour of excitement can negate the 23 hours of rest. As with most of us, we live and learn the truths of trying to recover.

My best to you.