Subconcussive Impacts
 

Hello once again everyone. Back in September, I joined the forums with intent to seek answers for my overwhelming anxiety surrounding my possible concussion in June. Although my initial "bout" with post concussion syndrome was more hypochondria than anything, I have returned to inquire of a more recent dilemma I've been facing. In the past few months I have been racking up several sub-concussive impacts. I've been hitting my head once almost everyday this month, and needless to say I have become extremely concerned. I'm starting to have struggles with memory, and my inherent depression and anxiety have taken a turn for the worse to say the least. For a while I had rested my faith in my therapist's faulty definition of neuroplasticity but now I'm starting to see that it is a serious issue. I would just like to know if I am too far gone to fully recover with how often I have been hitting my head. I'm still 13 and while This is a serious concern and I would like an answer soon

I am sorry for your troubles. May I know how you manage to hit your head everyday ? Are you into some high impact sports ? If that's the case, you must seriously consider taking a break from that for a long time.

You have to keep this brain with you for the rest of your life. One year of good care and nutrition doesn't sound too bad for a struggle free life.

The research into subconcussive impacts found that long term struggles was the result of experiencing hundreds of subconcussive impacts over the course of a sports season. In football, they discovered that many players suffer 800 to 1000 subconcussive impacts during a 3 month season.


Your head bump count is far below this level. I doubt that you are causing any serious injury. Your anxiety is as much a problem as these head bumps. The injured brain does not heal well when it is bombarded with the chemical toxins generated by anxiety. Please try to get help with your anxiety.

It would be good for you to reduce these head bumps. Eventually, one of your head bumps may reach the concussive level.

How are you getting all of these head bumps ?

It's simply accidental, Mark. Lately I've just been having terrible luck with hitting my head. Even on relaxing days I manage to get bumped. I am rather tall so that may be a contributing factor. I haven't played football or baseball since my concussion last June, so that has nothing to do with it.

Look into a wake boarding helmet. My son has severe hemophilia and wears one during all waking hours, just like putting on shoes. Protec and Liquidforce make really nice helmets... their soft foam on the inside; I use a hole saw drill 7/8" to create a pattern of extra holes so it doesn't get hot.


DON'T KNOCK YOUR NOG

Okay, okay, okay, I have had enough. My biggest fear is declining mentally and becoming nothing but an inane, damn near vegetable, and its making me even worse. I fear that I hit my head even when I clearly do not. Like today for example. I mistakenly thought I had hit my head on the faucet, so I continuously grazed my head over it to see if I did, and now my anxiety has spiked. Lately I've been "repeating" the actions in which I think I hit my head to see if I did, and it's making me even worse. Now I fear I am too far gone to get better because of my new found habit, and I am just a jumbled mess. How do any of you handle this anxiety? I can' seem to cope. Every day I attempt to not fall back into my vacuous habit, but I do it again. Now I'm more afraid than ever. Please, someone help.

Id suggest talking to your Dr and getting on some anxiety meds.

MB,

You need to find a way to convince yourself of the FACT that these occasional head bumps are not going to cause CTE. You may need help with a therapist to develop thought processes to overcome these destructive and anxious thoughts. Your sound like you may suffer from a form of OCD. CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) may help you.

I don't think you can overcome this without outside help.

Please, seek help with a therapist.

My best to you.

You aren't alone in this, just yesterday I jerked kinda funny to prevent something from falling in the tub and thought that I might have hit my head, even though I didn't feel anything, and sat in the tub re-enacting to convince myself that I hadn't done anything. That's the first time I've done something like that without actually hitting my head, but when I have hit my head I've re-enacted how fast I was moving to get an idea of the speed or forces involved.

I try to get through moments like this by recognizing my anxiety for what it is, and anxious overreaction to a small stimulus, and reassure myself that if any damage was actually done, it's only to the muscles/skull. Also, and this is just my experience, but any of the headaches related to these small headbumps have eventually either totally gone away or subsided significantly, so I tell myself that even if I did some kind of damage, the symptoms are likely to be short-lived. Finally, I try to tell myself that even if I did get brain damage (as exceedingly unlikely as that is), there's nothing I can do about it now, and getting anxious only makes it worse. It's easier to tell yourself this than actually believe/enact it, but I think simply telling yourself is the first step.

I've also been on lexapro for about a month, and it seems the visceralness of anxiety has improved, but I still have some anxious thought patterns.

Hey everyone. I apologize, my anxiety has really been overriding my better judgment lately. I have been through CBT in the past, and for a while I was not worried. However, I stopped going and my hypochondria came back stronger. The hysteria surrounding head injury has landed me in a massive deficit, mentally, physically and socially. I do hope that upon returning to CBT, the ubiquitous, overwrought fear that bumping my head on a car door will subside. Thank you.

you speak very well for a 13 year old. Studies have shown that very intelligent people are more prone to OCD. I have it and I was quite bright as a child. Get help now from a therapist or psychiatrist. You sound like you have a lot to offern the world. I would bet your brain is fine. I waited a long time to get treatment and that was a shame please don't do the same.

Have you considered a med for OCD ?

I would personally stop worrying about hitting your head again wether it be a small bump, or a full blown concussion.

Theres things in life we have no control over. This is one of them for the most part. We should certainly be proactiv and extra careful, but should not worry about it constantly. If we all were to worry about it wed be sitting inside a bubble with full protective gear on.

Relax and try to enjoy stuff without a constant fear. Bumps and bruises will happen, but most will amount to nothing.

I have not consider meds for OCD in the past. Genetics suggest otherwise, but most believed my fears were a routine case of anxiety. Considering my father's OCD and depression, and my mother's severe anxiety, it's quite certain that I'd have some sort of inherent mental problem. My paroxysm of OCD symptoms should be treated sooner rather than later. However, my family seems to write everything off as nothing but either hypochondria or standard anxiety. I will talk to them about what you have said, but I'm a bit concerned they'll be lethargic and let it go. However, I still have the same outlook on my new situation. The mind is precious, and not something we can just squander because of our haphazard tendencies. I will seek treatment as soon as possible.

MB292,

You are too smart for your own good. You are not at risk of the things you worry about. You are making mountains out of mole hills.

In my experience of living in the world of over-achieving teens, those who did not get control of anxiety issues and OCD like behaviors developed serious psychiatric issues in later life. The brain simply gets burned out and starts misbehaving.

Your family history may have more to do with intelligence that you inherited than an mental illness tendencies. Learning to know when to be concerned about a bit of information and when to let go of that thought will be very important.

I hope you can find a therapist who understands these issues. Meds at you age can be difficult. In my opinion, only a pediatric psychiatrist should be prescribing psycho-active meds to somebody your age.

My best to you.

Yes, I could see how your parents might not be too helpful. You do need an adult advocate. Could you talk to your family doctor or a trusted teacher at school?