depression
 

Hi all, I am just over 6 months PCS and its safe to say Im Depressed.

I dont have too many other symtoms apart from the ones assocated with my headaches. Is it possible that anxiety and depression is the reason for my lasting symptoms? is it possible that If i can break out of it my symtoms will dissipate.

Thoughts???

Hi Peter,
I have to say that I was really depressed. I am just a bit over six months pcs. So, 2 weeks ago I told myself that I won't change anything with my depression and anxiety but be in my own way. Why analyzing symptoms when it's making it worse.
So I try to ignore them as good as I can and I already see some symptoms getting less. Not all of my symptoms are caused by anxiety but many are. I feel way better and I am finally happy again and have more hope!
So I would say yes, your headaches could also have anxiety reason. I am no expert tho, its just a guess...:)

im totally with you man. im 13 months in and the only symptoms im having are migraines which cause me visual symptoms and headaches. ive come so far and im so close but it also seems im so far away

im 27 and used to be very active and although ive been pushing and getting myself back theres a huge part of me still missing in which i find myself laying in bed at night sad and wondering why ive had to endure so much

it sucks such a simple head hit can alter your life. since im over a year in its really depressing to know that this summer i might still feel like this. all my friends are out partying now and im home hanging out. my migraine was so bad last night i went to bed at 900pm WTF

i dont know what to do i just want to sleep until im better.

I am always going to bed at 9 pm, depressing right? i am 16, in germany i already reached drinking age. All my freinds are telling me that we're gonna party so hard when I am coming back from the US. gonna be fun explaining them that I just can't.

I think your depression and concussion symptoms are intertwined. Hopefully, both will fade as time goes by.

AH Clar,,

your right, you are with me! I can resonate with that post. Like you, I used to be very active, ambitiouos, always be on the go, a social butterfly! But since the accident and depression Ive lost the motivation to do things! because when i do i get whopping headaches. Its hard! People just think oh your depresses or its anxiety, dont get me worong it does play a big part, but if i wasnt in pain i wouldnt be depressed! and the pain and headaches are whats caused me to feel this way in the first place. I know in my heart that if tthe pain goes away i will no longer be depressed/ anxious, but at the same time I have to try and be positive while in pain! sooo hard. anyways the only thaing thats keeping me going is the hope that I will soon be back to 100% How are your symptoms today clar?

Thanks Mark, yes I agree. Its just hard working out a way to untagle them and my life!

There is no way for you to untangle them. The brain needs time and quiet rest. Continue taking it slow and patient. Be good to your brain with healthy nutrition and avoiding the bad stuff.

your being smart waiting to party its not worth it while your still hurt. i partied 2 months after i hit my head before i healed and it make me 10x worse. im convinced that im still having PCS because of that night i partied and went overboard. partying brought on symptoms i didnt even have previous. your only 16 you got so many good years ahead of you dont rush it.

today my symptoms have been good i really havent had any issues except my visual ones which are constant. its 933pm in Boston where i live and im on the computer watching TV and i worked out today and did a huge run. last night though it was so bad i thought i was gonna faint and went to bed at 9 with the worst feeling ever. its weird i can go a few days feeling like im turning the corner but then all of a sudden like a brick wall i feel back to square one

I really hope I am gonna heal. I was stupid and did sport. nNow I am trying everything I can to get healthy again. I guess I owe that my brain lol.
We both know ow much flashy sucks right?:winky:

hi Lui,

when you say flashy what do you mean?

Peter,

We are all different, but PCS causes us to all have raised tension and anxiety levels, put on top of this all the symptoms, worry about the future and life change, is it any wonder some of us feel depressed? Depression is a symptom of PCS.

In my case it was only when I was prescribed Cymbalta (an antidpressant with pain killing qualities) that I have started to feel better. I am coming up to 5 months now, but can safely say that all my symptoms have drastically reduced, I no longer focus on symptoms - which doesn't help, and I can now walk a couple of miles a day and have started swimming. I put this all down to quiet rest, reducing stress and demands on me, massage, reflexology, but moreover being prescribed the right medication.

Your right about pain getting you down, I used to get the most terrible migraines, fatigue and noise/light sensitivity, insomnia which would floor me for days. This was triggered by too much activity, noise, light and stress. I wasn't going to break out of the psychological-physiological cycle of PCS without medication, because one feeds into the other and vice versa. I am glad to say that finally I am now breaking free. Have a chat to your doctor and see what they say, but at the end of the day it's your decision, good luck!

Depression and anxiety are two residual symptoms that I continue to have long after the memory and other cognitive deficits resolved. Some things I find helpful include:

Mindfulness meditation. Classes are available and there are several good books on this. “Wherever You Go, There You Are” by Jon Kabat-Zinn is a good introduction to the topic.

Yoga. A good studio will integrate mindfulness practice with movement and postures (asana).

Massage therapy.

I have also gone to TBI support groups; I find these good, but for me less helpful than the other things mentioned above. We all find our own path, so use the tools that work for you. For many people professional therapy is helpful, some insurance plans will cover this.

:grouphug:

Meditation/ mindfulness
 

I'm not ready for meditation but one of my friends encouraged me to sign up for oprah's and choprak's free 21 day meditation challenge and it has really helped. Every day they just send me something positive to read and it's usually about healing. One day it was all about letting go. And it really helped me to think about letting go of the pat, the anger, the pain, the frustration, the impatience....
Su seb

sometimes i just thik to myself. is it all a state of mind!??

I am interested in yoga? would like to kow more info on how it helps.

thoughts>>

I would encourage yoga. Meditation has been the most helpful thing to me. It helps with racing thoughts, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, suicidal thinking, adjusting to life changing disability, makes me feel more stable and grounded, so many benefits I can't think of them all but I totally encourage you all to try this. So helpful with well being and healing inside and out. Yoga is a form of meditation with physical exercise added so if you are able this would be what I would do. Unfortunately, I am too hurt to do any exercise so I just do meditation.
Brain

Hey how are u feeling these days? I am going through the same thing headaches, depression...I hate it it been 6 months since my head injury.

ED

Hi Peter
 

Depression comes in all sizes and shapes. Glad you found Neuro Talk. This is where I come when I am depressed. You will make a few friends here too.
Each person is so different emotionally. Breaking out of a depression may take your doctor, maybe even some council. It couldn't hurt to talk to someone. Also right here is a good place to vent when you are blue. Don't hesitate to talk to anyone here on NT. Lots of good people, who experience the same kind of feelings. Sometimes it is brought on by illness or injury, some are just prone to depression. For me, something weird happened that put a new spin on my life. Threw depression of years right out the window.
Small story, I have told to a few.... I was bummed out, mad, depressed and went for a walk on the beach. The whole time I was chattering to God, " what am I suppose to feel"" What should I feel and how do I get better"" What do I do when I feel like this" I picked up a shell that was cup down. Not found in these parts. On the inside of the shell was written in a silver marker one single word, the word was "Joy" For what ever reason, years of anger and depression flew right out the window. Don't know how long it will last, but this worked for me.
I hope you find a spot where you know peace, and can feel joy again in your life. I am here to talk to anytime. ginnie:hug::grouphug:

My son also seems to have several days of great clarity: can remember all steps in personal care, is quite talkative, and can entertain himself.

Then he hits a wall and can't even remember where the bathroom is to take a shower.

But what I have noticed is this: every time he hits a brick wall...after several days of rest, he actually seems to have one more new skill than he use to have.

Maybe the brain just needs that rest in order to get better. Maybe it isn't back to square one, but just a stepping stone to the next level of recovery.

Just some thoughts based on what we are going thru too.

Take Care.