Thread: How to Deal with Unavoidable Stress
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Old 05-22-2013, 08:19 PM
DFayesMom DFayesMom is offline
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DFayesMom DFayesMom is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Columbus
Posts: 304
10 yr Member
Default Antidepressants
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluehiroko View Post
I'm also going through a lot right now at home and in my life. I think stress is this vicious cycle coupled with the injury. I am also thinking of going on an anti depressant or anti anxiety med. But I dont know what to do really. Would also like to hear from others. Do you also mean that the antidepressants have helped wiht your physical concussion symptoms? Thank you. Take Care.
Hey there blue,

I strongly recommend antidepressants to those that need them, as I believe they can correct a chemical imbalance in the brain. That's what happened to me. I was suffering from a low-level depression for much of the time after my second concussion, but I was so out of sorts, I didn't really recognize what was going on.

Before my PCS diagnosis, I went on a low dose of Wellbutrin to see if it would help me feel less lethargic (as I couldn't figure out what was possibly wrong with me), but I went off the Wellbutrin after my diagnosis because I told my doctor I wasn't depressed anymore, now that I knew what was wrong with me and that I wasn't just losing my mind! Well, as soon as stress entered my life, I completely broke down. I think the concussions have made my brain less resilient to stress. I'm normally my husband's rock, and so this was unusual for me. I felt so lethargic, I could barely do anything! I was just miserable and very unstable. I was constantly in tears. I knew I needed meds. I started the lower dose of Wellbutrin, and when I was still struggling after two weeks, I had the doctor up my dosage. Two weeks after that, I felt like my normal self again.

Did it help with my physical PCS symptoms? Um, that's complicated. I no longer have my cognitive symptoms or headaches to deal with, and when I did, I think the dose was too low to help, if it even would have. BUT some of the symptoms I did have--lethargy and lack of stamina--were 100 times worse when I was feeling depressed. I even think I felt foggier than I do now (and I thought I'd largely gotten over that!) So yes, it does help with some symptoms if you are depressed because the depression is probably contributing to your symptoms and you don't even realize it! I think it's worth trying something to see if it helps.

Finding the right medication can be trial and error, so don't give up if the first one doesn't work out! Also make sure not to abruptly stop taking an antidepressant. Some of them you need to be weaned off of to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

I'm not on anything for anxiety. I feel like most of those drugs make me feel tired, and I can't afford to have that, because I am low-energy as it is. Maybe there's something that wouldn't increase my lethargy, but I'm not sure.

Good luck to you!
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I have recovered my cognitive function, and I've overcome severe vertigo through sensory integration therapy. Wellbutrin has helped me escape depression. I have recently had a few stress-related migraines, as well as headaches stemming from eye strain. I'm also dealing with tinnitus, lack of stamina, extreme light sensitivity, and eye pain. Diagnosed with 9 different vision issues: convergence insufficiency, pursuit eye movement deficit, egocentric visual midline shift, photophobia, visual information processing delays, accommodative insufficiency, saccadic eye movement deficit, lack of coordination, and central peripheral visual integration deficit.

*First concussion: October 2010. I was pregnant and got rear ended. I associated my mild PCS symptoms with baby brain and blamed my light sensitivity on allergies and dry eyes.
*Second concussion: December 2011. I hit my head on a wooden beam, saw stars but did not lose consciousness, and I had very disturbing PCS symptoms but didn't go to the doctor.
*Third concussion: August 2012. I caused a car accident as a result of PCS symptoms. Thankfully no one was injured but me. My husband confronted me, and I finally sought help and took medical leave from work. My symptoms worsened, and I developed severe vertigo.
*Fourth concussion: November 2012. I was riding in a car with a friend and we were hit head on by a driver who lost control of her car. I didn't have a big increase in PCS symptoms.
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