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Member
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 242
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 242
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Depression or Overload?
For those of you who have been at this a long time, I'm looking to get some insight about the current state of my return to a more "normal" life.
My accident was 3/8/11 so I am almost 21 months into recovery. Last Fall, I started taking 2 classes with accomodations from the disability service in my Master's program. I'm still not working.
I have been in treatment for depression throughout this experience. I no longer feel sad or hopeless all the time and actually find myself laughing at times and smiling. This is wonderful.
However, I had a way too overloaded holiday season and also had a bought with the flu. That's been gone for a couple of weeks.
I started classes again last week. So far, I only have two classes, which are unfortunately back to back on the same night. (Basically I'm in class from 5pm-9pm and then have a half hour drive home). I'm exhausted, sensory overloaded and have a bad headache by the time I get home.
I've experienced an increase in symptoms, mainly fatigue and lack of motivation, but also a resurgence of vision problems. How would I know whether this is depression related? Or if I am over doing it?
It seems unlikely that I would relapse this far at this point in my recovery from my TBI. However, I don't feel extremely depressed like I did before either. I just can't seem to shake being tired and due to this, I can't really get anything done motivation wise.
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What Happened: On 3/8/11 I was stopped waiting to merge into traffic when I was rear ended by someone doing 45 mph. I walked away from the accident, to fall into the pit of PCS 5 days later... (I have had 2 previous concussions, but neither developed into PCS.)
Symptoms 3 Years Post: Physical: migraines, infrequent vertigo, neck and back pain (from accident), tinnitus, visual field deficits in left eye, problematic light sensitivity, (including visual seizure activity), noise sensitivity, EXTREME fatigue, semi-frequent disrupted sleep cycles,
Cognitive: semi-frequent Brain fog after cognitive strain, limited bouts of impulsivity, unable to concentrate for more than short periods of time without fatigue, word finding problems, slowed processing speeds, impaired visual memory;
Emotional: easily overstimulated, depression, anxiety;
Treatment so far: Vestibular therapy; Physical Therapy; Vision Therapy; Vitamin Schedule; Limited caffeine; Medications; attempting to limit stress and overstimulation; Yoga; Cognitive Therapy
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