Concerned about lack of self control
 

I suffered a minor concussion nearly 15 years ago. After countless visits to far too many different doctors and specialists I was diagnosed with post concussive syndrome.

I suffered from a laundry list of symptoms, including seizures (grand mal and petite), unbearable headaches, long and short-term memory issues, dizziness, sensitivity to sound and light, times when I would just zone out and lose 30 minutes to over an hour. These symptoms seem to have subsided after about ,two-years.

Since then I have noticed I increasing long and short-term memory problems, difficulty focusing, difficulty completing tasks, decreased impulse control (including problems with my temper), and difficulty learning new tasks. In addition, I lack motivation, and have little or no desire to spend any time with family or friends.

I'm 57 now, and in all honesty I attributed these 'problems' to aging. Then an associate made a comment about the possibility the problems I'm still experiencing could very well be connected to that simple bump on the head.

Am I just getting old and worn out, or is there any truth to my associates comments about it possibly being related to an old, seemingly mild injury?

I suspect your associate is correct. A brain injury changes the brain forever. Good news is that with appropriate therapies, the brain can heal!

My TBI was 37 years ago (I'm 54 now). I have had problems with anger and self-control ever since, but I had no reason to link the injury to my anger issues. Until a couple years ago I began making threats to a former supervisor, and got dinged with a nice misdemeanor criminal threat charge. The incident did get me to turn focus on the accident and how it affected me mentally.

At this point, I would be surprised if most if not all of your symptoms were not connected to your brain injury.

These kinds of problems can sneak up on you over time, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were directly connected to that "simple bump on the head".

Are you getting enough rest? Your list "long and short-term memory problems, difficulty focusing, difficulty completing tasks, decreased impulse control (including problems with my temper), and difficulty learning new tasks" are exactly what happen to me if I am over-tired (let's be honest - exhausted), over the long term. Being tired makes everything worse, especially behavior issues.

Are you drinking enough water and eating properly, as well? Your brain demands a lot to keep going at peak - even an ageing brain (which mine is, too)

When I'm worn out, my motivation goes through the floor, and I have no interest in dealing with any living being in person. Online is fine, but I honestly can't be bothered with real live interactions.

Check your sleep and food and water intake. Making some minor adjustments and staying steady with them might help.

Good luck.

Welcome to NT.

What you describe doesn't sound to me like "normal aging". The deficits you are experiencing could be related to your prior injury, or it could be something else. When did these latest symptoms become problematic?

To rule out the "something else" which could possibly include a mini-stroke or clot (which may or may not be related to your prior injury), I'd see a neurologist or/and a clinical neuropsychologist for a thorough professional evaluation.

What types of appropriate therapies are you talking about?

(I hope this isn't a repeat. I'm having computer issues.) Does it get any better? A few years following my concussion, I "snapped" at work and went off on my publisher, which cost me my job. It never occurred to me the behavior may have been related to pcs. I worked as a reporter/photographer/pasteup artist for years. After that, the only lasting job I could find was working as a bartender at a local brew pub. Once it closed, I've been hopping from job to job.

I find it interesting, I mean the similarities I'm seeing in these posts. Here I can relate to the lack of interest in dealing with any living being in person. I used to be a real people person, especially on the job (working for a newspaper and as a bartender). Now it's like I have to turn on a switch inside and act like I enjoy dealing with people face to face. I appreciate the input.

It's tough to say, since I really wasn't paying attention to them. Truth is I think I was trying to work through them, ignore them. I used to act with a small dinner theatre group. I never had a problem memorizing my lines. Several years after my diagnosis, I attempted to perform in a play. Fortunately I played a reporter, so carrying a notebook (with my lines and blocking) looked like nothing more than a prop. I couldn't remember my lines long enough to make it through the first half of a scene. Memory, anger, and motivation issues, plus others probably became problematic almost immediately after the concussion. Looking back, it explains so much. Wish I'd started looking into it earlier.

As far as I'm concerned, the problem is solved. Now that I know what's going on, I can head off problems before they become problems. I can easily recognize when my uncontrolled emotions (especially anger) are the result of frontal lobe failure. At that point I give myself a time-out till the feeling goes away. After about 2 years, the anger sessions just mostly stopped happening; I guess my poor damaged brain can learn new stuff after all.

What really ticks me off (just kidding!) is that I could have headed off legal problems had I only known what was happening with my brain. This is why it's so important for people like us to share our experiences.

instant rage at the movies..
 

I am 9 months post 2 concussions. 1 mva. with fractured c2 and herniated c6 that was miss by my doc so 10 days later the confusion got so bad I walked into a poll and that put me over the edge. have not worked since. 57 y/0 pharmacist. cant make change at a drive thru. being treated at Stanford.

well, went to the Butler the other night. I was sitting all the way in the back in the solo seat and for no good reason decided to check my emails. there was one more row of seats 4 feet away and a guy asked me to turn my phone off. I said "what?" in a very load voice and **** *** was on the tip of my tongue.
if he was closer I would have said it. I really do not know where it came from.
zero to rage instantly.
I continued with the movie. walked around in the back awhile. standing up. changed seats. standing up again. then left early. if I was someone else in the audience I would have been alarmed.

its all messed up. frankly

As I had mentioned earlier, I too have had anger management issues. It never occurred to me the loss of control which cost me my job shortly after the injury (something that prior to the concussion was not a issue) may have been related to the injury that happened in the very office I lost control in. I don't want to blame it all on the bump on the head, but it explains so much in the change in my attitudes and behavior since the injury.

Believe me, I can relate. My lack of control issues have subsided somewhat, however they apparently continue, only in a far more subtle manner. Had I known then (15 years ago) what I know now I would have insisted upon more tests and evaluations. I then believed one the obvious symptoms disappeared I was completely healed. Now I have to consider going back to the doc and seek treatment for cognitive and psychological issues which may or may not be related to what at the time appeared to be a minor concussion.

Sounds very much like my last 43 years... Have you started the vitamin regimen as put up by Mark in the sticky posts? Worked wonders for me. No more gapping out and my concentration is better. If you haven't tried the vitamins yet, give them a shot. For myself, I must say the vitamin regimen has been a big help.
Jamie

No, I haven't. I'll be checking into it.

I've been giving your comment a lot of thought, and concerning the sleep, I believe I am, as that's all I really want to do. Enough water, I'm always thirsty, and wake up countless time throughout the night feeling as if I am dying of thirst.

Today (9-23-13) I was driving down the street. A bicycle with one of those flashing l.e.d. lights was behind me. Almost immediately I felt sick to my stomach and light headed. If I didn't look in the mirror I felt better. If I looked back into the rear view mirror I started feeling bad again. Is this something I should be concerned about?

Odd dreams and unclear memories are coming up. Two in particular have me concerned as I believe these to be actual occurrences.

The first, I'm a youngster, more like a toddler riding in the front seat of the family car. We're driving down the alley heading home, toward our house. I'm leaning up against the passenger door. My dad is driving. I vaguely remember feeling like I'm falling. The next thing I know I'm waking up in bed with a big bump on the back of my head. My parents look concerned, but are happy that I'm awake. As it turned out, I had fallen out of the moving car. They won't tell me if I was actually knocked out. They really don't like talking about it. That must have been about 54 years ago.

The second, years later. I'm at the beach across the street from my childhood home. I'm under water, holding my breath, playing. It's a normal activity as best I remember. I'm maybe 5 or 6 years old. I come to the surface, and in the shallow water I abruptly stand up. I vividly recall a sharp blow to my face and everything going black. The next thing I know my friends grandmother is pulling me from the water. Again, I can't get anyone to confirm whether or not I was knocked out, I do remember being told I was accidentally hit in the face with a oar (a rowboat was coming to shore and didn't see me under water). That would have been about 51 or 52 years ago.

I didn't see a doctor for either accident.

It's no wonder I'm having problems. That's two concussions before I was in the second grade and another one almost 36 years later. I'm pretty sure I was out for a few seconds, maybe up to a couple of minutes in each case.

It's been a while since I've posted anything. Recently I posted something about having some vague memories of some "bumps" on the head when I was just a kid. Well, the other night I had a flash from the past so to speak that was very vivid. A few years back I was tending bar at a local brew pub. A not so regular customer entered who appeared to be intoxicated so I immediately refused him service and asked him to leave the customers alone. He got very angry and yelled to me as I left I had better watch my back. I didn't give it much thought. About a week or so later he jumped me as I was walking to my car. I don't remember anything about the attack other than the fact that he was sitting on my chest, grabbing my head and pounding it into the concrete. A witness told me I had been blindsided (which put me to the ground) and then he started banging my head into the ground. The night before this memory returned I started getting headaches again, started feeling dizzy again (primarily when I stand up), lights seem to be bothering me more, I seem to hear the sound of static which I don't remember hearing before, and feel as if the outer edges of my vision getting kinda dark and out of focus (almost like I'm starting to look inside a large pipe). If it continues I know I'm going to have to go see a doc, but I really don't want too.

Where do I go for help?
 

This has been going on for far too long. It's not getting better and it doesn't seem to be getting worse. I remember when things were much simpler. I had no problems remembering things (words especially). I was having a conversation today and wham, it was like looking at a blank screen.

Did you ever report the assault to the police ? Some states have victims of violence funds that can help with doctors bills.