Attending events with large groups - How to manage
 

Hey everyone

So I was just wondering if anyone had any advice on how to attend larger gatherings where people are a bit roudier/crammed in.

I've gotten a lot better at managing small bumps/jolts but I've just recently started to attend parties and gatherings with friends again and I've run into a few issues I need some tips or advice to manage.

AT smaller/quieter events I'm ok where people are relaxed and chilling/having a good time.

But when people have either had too much to drink or they want to go out to bars/clubs with lots of people. I'm hesitant.

I got invited out to a party with some friends tonight and there was quite a few people.

Was going well but then one of my best after he was quite drunk decided to backhand me in the cheek. Not aggressively just he goes to hug me, gives me a big hug and then smacks me on the cheek bone with the back of his hand.

I've seen heaps of people get way too touchy/in your face when drunk like people grabbing the back of your head when hugging you or patting your head a little hard in their excitement.

Could these types of impacts cause concussions for those more sensitive like myself? I've been feeling a little off. I'm gonna wait until tomorrow and see if I feel better but yeah, a bit annoying.

How do you guys deal with situations like this? I'm VERY clear with people "Don't touch my head," "please don't hit my head" etc but as soon as they have had too much to drink or if they are really excited some people just grab ya and give you a pat on the cheek etc. I HATE IT. It ****** me off, gives me anxiety and makes me annoyed and stressed.

ALong with this, I got dragged into bars/clubs tonight and I was constantly worried because there were SO MANY people around and I was getting bumped etc. No head knocks THANK GOD but after 45 minutes I was done and couldn't take it anymore and left.

tl.dr

1. Can friendly slaps/hits to the cheek or back of head cause concussions? THese are "drunk slaps," so they are probably a little harder as they don't realize how hard they are hitting.

2. How do you manage people that get near your head even when you tell them not to.

3. How do you attend larger gatherings like music festivals etc after having sustained concussions.

Thanks everyone

DeanBJJ

If you choose to be at these events, you need to accept that hits happen and they do not mean anything. If you can't, then why go out if you are going to spend the next week worrying about a shoulder bump in the crowds or a hearty hug.

You should not be drinking more than a single serving.

If you can't be convinced of the truth about these minor movements in previous posts, why do you even ask? You won't believe us now.

btw, The noise will overwhelm your brain and make you think you suffered a concussion.

This is a great point...Very little do I or would I go to an event at all. I do that to protect myself. I have at times seen and heard loud music. It better be something real special because I know the next day I will PAY FOR IT!

Im not sure the exact reason, but sure enough, im assuming its the noise, the mass of people, the lights all make be feel awful!

I cant say I have ever in my life been to any event of party were people are hitting me, slapping on the back or even touching me? Maybe a hand shake, a hug?

I went to an Oktoberfest event last weekend. There were 3 stages with loud music and lots of people. I was there for 3 hours. The loud music didn't bother me for the first two hours, but after 3 hours, it was like I hit a wall and it was too much stimulation. So we left. Next time I'll try to stay for 4 hours.

Try an Expose & Recover strategy. You did 45 minutes at the club, so rest for a week, then try to do an hour, and increase your activity level a little more every week.

You mentioned you went out "tonight." Did you go to the club and then write this post in the same night? You need more time to recover.

And always avoid risky activities, like Heavy drinking.

davOD,
excellent point.
It's overstimulation. I get it even going to the supermarket and I'm recovered long ago.

Dean, if people are dragging you into clubs and bars and then all this happens you should just say no and go home. "Drunk slaps"?? yuk. You're young and want to go out of course, but it doesn't sound as if it's worth it.

Lara has it right. It is over-stimulation.

BUT, you need to understand what over-stimulation is.

The injured brain has a seriously decreased ability to process sensory stimulation. A healthy brain can filter out a vast amount of sensory stimulation that has no current need to be recognized and processed. Echoes, voices from the nearby conversations, background sounds, and much more have no need to be processed so the healthy brain filters them out and ignores them.

Let's say it can tolerate 1000 pieces of sensory stimulation and filter out and ignore 600 pieces. It has no problem with the remaining 400 pieces of stimulation but not much more.

The injured brain loses this filtering out/ignoring function.

Let's say it can process only filter out 200 pieces of stimulation out of the 1000. The remaining 800 pieces of stimulation overload the brain by a factor of 2. It can cause stress/fight or flight chemistry in the brain. For many of us, we can expect to need a few days to even a few weeks to recover from serious over-stimulation.

My neuro did a test that showed how much stimulation made it past the filter. As he said "You hear everything. How do you handle that?"

I wear ear plus in restaurants and in auditoriums. I know I might need to leave.

That has been my condition for over 20 years.

Mark what was the test? I have never heard of it...I had so many but that was like 16 years ago....I would be interested in learning more about it. Living in rural America Im sure I would have to go to the big city to get it done.

I had a qEEG that included a Auditory Evoked Potential session and a Visual Evoked Potential session. Not many neuros even understand them. My neuro was a pioneer in using qEEG AEP and VEP. He had administered over 6000 and created a comparative database. Unfortunately, he never publish his database and research widely.

Some therapists understand qEEG, AEP, and VEP but they are hard to find.

Dr Walker in Texas, I think Houston, does work with qEEG.