Concussion and Anxiety
 

I got diagnosed with a concussion about 3 months ago. I went from being a social, happy, funny to quiet, anti-social, and always sad. I went through depression, anxiety and panic attacks thinking that I will never be my old self. I am slowly getting better but I still have constant anxiety that was never there before. I use to never get anxiety like this, its an all day struggle trying to convince myself not to worry about so many things. My whole thought process has changed, I feel like I can only keep thinking about little things wrong with me and think about how I am feeling in my head,body, etc. I can't just enjoy my surroundings and interact socially like I use too because I am constantly thinking "inside my head" I guess you could say.Recently, its been back and fourth between good days and bad days with anxiety. I feel like all this anxiety is just in my head because if I don't think about it I usually feel fine. I am wondering if all this anxiety is from the concussion? Or did my concussion just spark this changing in my thought process? Also if anyone is experiencing this or has gone through it let me know what you did?

it goes away trust me. im 14 months into this and have barely any symptoms except visual and some fatigue

when i had anxiety which was between the 3 to 6 month mark i was a panic attack waiting to happen in any situation. i went from not being able to go into rooms of people to being able to hang out in any room with anyone

it will go away trust me then you wont even think about it. it takes time.

gamn44,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

The anxiety you are experiencing is common. There are things you can do to moderate it. The concussed brain struggles to process stimulation in your environment. Learning to reduce your exposure to sound and visual chaos will help your brain stay focused. Your brain is likely kicking into Fight or Flight syndrome from over-stimulation.

It will help if you read the Vitamins thread. It's probably on the second page of the index. Good brain nutrition will help your brain tolerate stress and over-stimulation.

Feel free to ask any question or tell us anything about you.

My best to you.

Hi and welcome to NeuroTalk. There is a lot of useful information on this forum.

Three months probably seems like a long time but it is relatively soon I the recovery cycle from a mTBI.

Anxiety and depression are common with TBI. Some things I have found helpful in reducing anxiety and depression have included mindfulness meditation, non-strenuous yoga, and massage therapy.

Best to you as you recover.

Gman,

I am 5 months with pcs but most of my symptoms have gone and I just have a mild headache in the evening. The turning point was a discussion with my doctor about my mood and I was prescribed anxiety relieving medication. I was very much focussed on my symptoms and this was not helping my recovery, I was also very inward looking. My anxiety/tension was at a level that I was getting tension waves through my body which I could physically feel, I think this was increasing fatigue levels along with other physical symptoms. By relieving the anxiety/tension most of my symptoms have now gone altogether. Good luck with your recovery.

I recently began the vitamin regimen as recommended above by Mark and my anxiety is greatly improved. I feel much better, no question. Its worth a try.

OP I'm feeling the extract same way. Almost 4 months in

Arty, what you are feeling is normal for PCS. I felt anxious for a long time during PCS, but later on felt better.

Here's what you can do:

Limit over-stimulation

Talk Therapy

Medication

Natural Remedies

Mark's Vitamin Thread

Rest

Meditation

My lifestyle was way too harsh and I landed in the ER, after a combo of Cymbalta and gabapentin, I had a bad reaction, my brain hated it, basically. I couldn't get off the anxiety train till then, so I know how you feel. My anxiety came with digestive issues and nausea due to brain and gut connection.

I stayed inpatient at the hospital and thats where my relief was starting to begin. Months later, I felt almost shockingly better. My family was impressed and my friends were relieved. I was left with a 98% recovery and the clear to move on plus physical therapy.

So, if you are feeling anxious, slow down just a tad bit. You may be overstimulating your brain. However, if this continues, DO NOT wait if you are distressed a lot, seek treatment and help right away when you can.

Regards,

Consider (Elisa)

I had horrible anxiety/panic attacks for the first 2-3 months, I think most of it was caused by lack of correct information about my injury, and me thinking that there's something horribly wrong with my brain, etc.
At first I didn't even realize that I was having these anxiety attacks since I've never had them before, I thought it was part of the concussion symptoms.
I would strongly recommend trying natural remedies for anxiety attacks first, before resorting to meds. I think that Xanax messed me up, and made it worse after I got used to it.

I can relate to you
 

I feel like I am going through the exact same thing as you. I am also in my third month of PCS and the anxiety and depression has been an unreal rollercoaster ride. I never had anxiety before and now it consumes my mind throughout the day. I constantly found myself thinking I just want to be the funloving outgoing adventurous girl I use to be and feared I never would. Thats when the anxiety would set in as I pulled away from my roommates and friends and became very antisocial in an attempt to cope with this. I am slowly starting to think the anxiety is simply a side affect of the condition as some days I feel better than others. Before I feared that something more severe was wrong with me and the anxiety would set in as I thought I was dying or something. Now i understand its the PCS and nothing else is going to happen to me. I do sometimes still get stuck in my mind, but I think its getting better. Ive found it helps to imediately think of something positive like "it could be worse" or "it may be slow but im making progress." I have been taking a natural remedy for anxiety which seems to help a little. I have tried meditation and also find that venting (mostly on here) seems to help release the built up tension inside of me. Lastly, I have turned to my faith and have been reading my bible when I have my "attacks" and found reassurance in the verse, "cast your anxieties on him for he cares for you." I hope you continue to heal and just remember the anxiety is a part of the PCS but it is also self enflicted. Dont let it get you down as I will try to do the same. Good luck to you and if you ever need to vent I am here as well as many other members on this page.

what vitamins have you been trying?

Read the sticky at the top titled Vitamins and Supplements. It has my regimen. I updated the regimen last month. It is on the last page of the sticky Vitamins thread.

2 months in
 

Hi. I've been reading this thread for a few weeks for encouragement. Started most of the vitamin regime. B12, b6, omega 3, calcium w magnesium.

My concussion was about 9 weeks ago and has been a roller coaster. I really don't get any headaches, mainly it's anxiety. It's consumed my life. I can't stop thinking about what's wrong with me and looking for solutions.

Early I'm I was prescribed lorazepam and only took 2 tablets and I started seeing scary images and increased anxiety. A few weeks later I was feeling pretty good, back to sleeping through the night but then got an ear infection and put on amoxicillin. Since then the anxiety has been back. I was prescribed clonzepam, helped the first few times but then started making me fatigued and depressed. After a stressful night with no sleep I went off the clonzepam and asked to be put on an ssri. Started celexa on sat morning, felt great until yesterday and had my worst day/night yet.


I want to ditch all these prescriptions as me stressing over the side effects and long term effects is making it worse.

Wondering if anyone who posted last year can come back with a success story to give me hope.

I had TERRIBLE anxiety and panic attacks after the tbi. With the help of a great psychologist, I've been able to get things much more under control - without drugs.

My psychologist thinks I might have been able to cope, without the meds, because premorbid me was calm, to the point of comatose. :) Sometimes who we were before matters.

Still, if something super stressful happens in my life, I'm not ruling out needing a little chemical help.

Did you have anxiety issues prior to your injury?

I did but they were very manageable. Nothing like I'm experiencing now. As long as I can distract myself with something I feel ok but the minute I remember my PCS I'm back to feeling like garbage. Haven't properly ate since this whole thing happened. It's mainly the stomach and sleep issues causing the anxiety i think.

mansfim,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Anxiety has two components to work on. The thought processes and the physiological responses.

The thought processes are important. often, we over-emphasize the issues of PCS. Long term recovery levels. Getting back to work. Bumping our head again. etc. If one can't get a grasp on how to contemplate these issues without them causing anxiety, professional counseling help may be needed.

If one's body goes into anxiety reactions without thought processes as a trigger, one needs to figure out what the trigger is. Too much stimulation maybe. It takes discipline to moderate stimulation. We need to be pro-active, not reactive.

What happens with your thoughts when you remember your PCS ?

Mouse, I'm curious what medication they gave you? i was just prescribed lexapro for depression & anxiety

Thanks Mark,

I'm usually thinking about the PCS. I can't stop focusing on my anxiety. Recently I've become more nervous about medications and their side effects as well as my sleep issues. Can't get any more than 5 hrs sleep. On 9.5 mg of zopiclone and i still wake up up after 5 hrs.

When you sleep, do you dream?

If you don't mind me asking, how did you get your TBI. I got mine in a terrible car accident. I used to get very anxious when I spoke about my injury as it really awakened my PTSD over the crash. With better control over the PTSD, I can think about my TBI without becoming a shaking, stuttering mess.

Yes, I believe I do dream when I sleep but they aren't as vivid as they used to be. I used to be a very active dreamer, would fall into REM quickly and dream even if only napping for a half hour.

I was was drunk and tripped over something and hit my head on a rock. The actual accident doesn't cause me any stress, however the proceeding events caused a great deal. I did a list with my girlfriend last night of the stressful events that have taken place since the accident and it added up to 19! I was in the process of buying a house, had to cancel a non refundable vacation, my truck broke down 4 time, including the day I was moving and couldn't figure out the issue, among other smaller things.

There was a time about 3 weeks after I hit my head that I described myself as 98%, then anxiety REALLY started. I thought it was bad in the first 3 weeks, boy was I wrong. It's worse now.

every time I wake up it is to a confusing dream with a severe anxiety attack. I don't know why. I use cpap. it is like my brain is trying to heal after all these years still and is in shock.