[MiaVita2012]

I have suffered from a Traumatic Brain Injury and post concussion syndrome resulting from a car accident that was not my fault over a year ago.

I just found out last month diagnosis and now I had to stop my schooling, my own biz, and file for disability.

I am in the waiting to see a psychiatrist in a few weeks to get medication.The TBI & PCS has me now bipolar,OCD,Anxiety out the world,Depression,ADD,Dementia, and overall left to stay alive with strength till I get to psychiatrist.

*I need some coping methods help to make it threw!I lost all my friends. I need to rely on this support group to help me threw*

I have been reading self help books, drinking white tea, eating healthy (If I eat) trying to take vitamins(but most need with food)trying to find inner peace, meditation, trying to walk 4 days out of the week, watching comedy movies, trying to let go of dwelling so I can cope.

~The only medication I have is xanax and Doctor wants me to only take as needed....I am so close to my therapies and seems like the manic has taken over and I am losing strength and hope~

This is a def a cry for help!!!Any feedback would be very appreciated

[Mari]

Hi,

Do you have an appointment with the psychiatrist? Things are going to get better.
Do you have a therapist? Therapists can help people deal with whatever we are going through be it the medical system, medications, loss of job, changes in lifestyle and so on.

That stupid doctor who wants to be stingy with Xanax might need to give you something more while you wait to get into your appointment.

Who diagnosed you as bipolar? If that is what you have, the book Bipolar For Dummies is very helpful. Walking is good. So are those other things you list.
Also belly breathing and muscle relaxation techniques.
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00521...exercises.html

You don't have to have actual meals.
For example, you could cut up some apples to put in the fridge. During the day, snack on apple slices and peanut butter --- or whatever food works for you.

M

[Brokenfriend]

Originally Posted by MiaVita2012

I have suffered from a Traumatic Brain Injury and post concussion syndrome resulting from a car accident that was not my fault over a year ago.

I just found out last month diagnosis and now I had to stop my schooling, my own biz, and file for disability.

I am in the waiting to see a psychiatrist in a few weeks to get medication.The TBI & PCS has me now bipolar,OCD,Anxiety out the world,Depression,ADD,Dementia, and overall left to stay alive with strength till I get to psychiatrist.

*I need some coping methods help to make it threw!I lost all my friends. I need to rely on this support group to help me threw*

I have been reading self help books, drinking white tea, eating healthy (If I eat) trying to take vitamins(but most need with food)trying to find inner peace, meditation, trying to walk 4 days out of the week, watching comedy movies, trying to let go of dwelling so I can cope.

~The only medication I have is xanax and Doctor wants me to only take as needed....I am so close to my therapies and seems like the manic has taken over and I am losing strength and hope~

This is a def a cry for help!!!Any feedback would be very appreciated

Don't give up. It's going to take time to get things coordinated. It sounds like you need a steady medication therapy.

Do you have family that can help you financially. It takes a couple of years,and a Lawyer to get Social Security Disability.

If you feel bad enough,go to the emergency room. You can call Social Services in your county,or State. You can call you states mental health emergency telephone number.

Try not to panic. All of these things take time.
I'm so sorry for what you've been through. It sounds like you are going through a real ruff time right now. I hear your desperation,so please hang in there.

There are people on this forum that have remarkable skills,and have been,and are going through a variety of different mental health issues.

My handle is Brokenfriend. Welcome to the bipolar Forum. BF

[Dmom3005]

Hi

I'm Donna and I have Tramatic Brain Injury and PCS also. I have
had more than one injury that resulted in PCS.

My TBI was a mild case. But I had to learn to do many things again.
I came into the forum and talked to the people. And listened, talking
to everyone about what was going on. I also took xanax along with
some other medications. Mine were for pain so I take gabapentin.

And I also have high blood pressure so I take two medications for
that. And I take topamax for migraine prevention. All 4 of these
medications help with the signs of PCS and TBI.

I also did physical therapy for my physical symptoms. That at times
people don't realize they have. I only realized because I'd had them
before. But not for a injury they were something that was part of
me.

If I can be of help, please feel free to pm me also.

Donna

[Kristara]

welcome to the wonderfully exciting world of TBI's.... haha.... theyre as exciting as a horrible roller coaster you never wanted to get on in the first place.
Myself it was a severe tbi comatose for several days at age 17, also from a car accident due to no fault of my own (i was a passenger), I also had to drop out of school, which was devastating, i lost scholarship, went from being top 5% in US to barely being able to read a paragraph and remember or comprehend WTH it was about.
Not sure your age range but expect mouth dropping diagnoses, comments, accusations etc. from the docs, TBI's seem to be the least studied/ understood injury, shocking i know, even after 7yrs i cannot seem to find a knowledgeable doc. so don't believe everything they tell you, I have been diagnosed as "bipolar" then they said i wasnt, "manic-depression" again then they said i wasnt, one told me i had "migraine headaches" that had nothing to do with my brain bleeds, haha he was immediately relinquished of his position as my neurologist, thats this year alone. I'm not a downer but a realist and i hope you dont have too high of expectations for the psych, yea they come in handy occasionally but i have never had a "break thru" discovery from them, everything they tell me i know already (ie the anxiety, sleeping probs etc.)

You def should check out local TBI support groups, they have ones that arent like AA meetings lol, in my area there is a group that goes bowling every week, it would be good for you to be around people with the same set of issues youre dealing with right now and i'll tell you theres a text book list of TBI aftermath issues.
Also make sure to inform the people closest to you about your TBI also tell them a lil about it (not overwhelming info just make sure they know youre anxious, have a hard time concentrating etc.), i hate doing it cause i don't want them to think im incapable but its better than them thinking im inconsiderate, ditsy, an over-reactor and so on. I also lost all my friends, its hard but youll make new ones eventually theres a place for you i promise my new friends love me they consider me a wild card in life, always into, up to, down for, or creating something new, exciting or crazy.

A lot of times i find that i just have to redirect my brain when i feel that im slipping into a phase (ocd, anxiety, anger, irritability depression etc) everyone will find something that works best for them but i like to just blast my fav music and sing, dance, play with dog it usually will pull me outta a funk temporarily. I also seem to be oodles more happy in social settings talking to random people, going for a drive is good way to clear mind,

I'm not sure if you like poker but if you do check out WPTAPL, its the ameteur poker league and its usually a regular group of people who meet at local places like bars and play a few times a week its a great way to network, make friends and have fun and if i feel really crappy about my life i'll watch jerry springer, maury etc and i feel like an amazing human being afterwards come check out the chat rooms if you get bored its a good distraction from life sometimes too

[Mari]

Kristara,

If I lived nearby, I would definitely find a way to play poker with you if you'd have me. You have a good way of facing what is going on.

M

[MiaVita2012]

I thank everyone and appreciate the feedback.

I do have appointment the middle of this month(Jan) with a psychiatrist...I wonder how many trial meds I will have to take to find the best one for me?

I went to first counselor session yesterday and was a hour to short and came out more angry then anything....I told my story and got "well our hour is up"!!!No goals set or nothing....go back in 2weeks....I needed this counselor to help me @ least until I got to start psychiatrist!

I called to get in the cognitive behavior therapy~They said I could start mid March

Black jack was my therapy for last year while in the "unknown"symptoms....I loved just playing cards in my free time....but it turned impulsive the last year....now no income,family has to help with my bills & living makes me feel like crap!Excuse my language

*I went from not asking anyone for anything to relying on people! I do not understand how is this suppose to help me...is this a way to reground myself by hitting rock bottom with no meds or anything~To be able to pick up after and start all over? Is this in the regimen to get better? But I suppose to use this time to work on me*

I am socially out of it...interaction is sometimes the cause of more anxiety to me because the obvious. I have no appetite I force fish, fruit, and veg's down!

Are they forcing me to run to inpatient to get help faster? I am soooo lost for positive words @ moment! I would love to be able to smile for 2hrs a day instead of 1 or 2hrs some days

[Dmom3005]

Okay, lets see try smiling for 15 minutes a day every day first. Then after
say two weeks move it up to 30 minutes a day. Then if you find some days
you are smiling more or finding something funny. Think of this as a added
blessing.

Next you are at the bottom of the places at this time. I can hear it in
your talking. I sure wish I knew something to tell you.

When you go back to the counselor in two weeks, make sure you have a
list of things you would like to talk about. For that hour. Its not unusual
not to get done with what you need to talk about. So this next time,
have it planned so you can at least get one or two things discussed.

Also see if there is a group you can join, I think it might also help you a lot.
I have a sister, who sometimes does this. It helps her a lot.

When it comes to depending on your family to help with your bills this is just
something your going to have to do right now. Just realize, that one day, You can always help them back.

Please keep posting. Thats how we can help.

Donna

[Dmom3005]

Kristara

You have a very upbeat way of putting things. Thanks.

I also was involved in a car accident. Along with a few other kinds of
TBI's.


I admire the progress you have made.

Please keep us posted as to how you are doing also.

Donna

[Mari]

Hi, MiaVita,

You have the option of going to an ER. You will be evaluated by a psychiatrist. You could even call the ER to ask how they would handle you. Maybe find the best ER in your area.

Therapy is not a whole lot of help as you know if the medication is not in place. Still, it was good that you have a therapist. It takes several visits for the two of you to get used to each other. You could go in next time with a typed sheet of bullet points of goals and such. Also, you could ask the therapist about his/her background and orientation. . . . what kind of therapy they do, . . . . if they have ever worked with someone with your diagnoses . . . . . .

Not every one needs a lot of time in trying meds. The biggest hurdle in this journey is the diagnosis. You have that.
Are you sleeping?
Cognitive behavioral therapy will be good.

Originally Posted by MiaVita2012

:
I went from not asking anyone for anything to relying on people!

That seems to one of the main things you are concerned about---- losing independence.

Yes, social life changes. I limit all stimulation as much as possible.

Try to hold on. You are going to get better.

Mari