Braking suddenly in a car
 

Earlier today I was riding in the passengers seat of my friends car and we were

going for a rather long drive. We must've been going anywhere from 40-55

mph and he didn't realize that we were rapidly approaching a red light. He

pushed down on the brakes rather harshly as we slowed to a stop slightly after

the light. it was probably four to five seconds of slowing before stopping, so it

wasn't like it was immediate, but it was still quite sudden. I feel a little off right

now but I've been tired all day and I feel as though my exhausting anxiety has

taken affect. I don't have any headaches but I do feel a slight brain fog and a

dampening of mood. I'm wondering if this could cause any damage or if you all

think I'll be alright and recover swiftly, as I have been. Thank you, and advice

or commentary is greatly appreciated.

This did not cause any damage of any kind. Most likely, you are just dealing with the anxiety of the event.

Please try to not even think about these events as causing damage. The anxiety of those thoughts are far more problematic than any real potential trauma.

Also, keep in mind that there are two different issues. Stress and damage. Stress just leads to fatigue. Damage is rare in situations like this.

Mark is probably right - unless your neck is unstable. If that is the case, being jostled CAN trigger a host of symptoms. My PT warned me that all I have to do to cause myself grief is tip my head too far back.

Many TBIs involve the violent movement of the head and neck. Think of whiplash, punching, falling or even walking into an object. Have you had your neck examined thoroughly?

I guarantee you're completely fine. I just read your post from May detailing your concussion history, and I'm 95% sure we're in pretty much the same boat. Frustration? Check. High psychological sensitivity to even the prospect of damage? Check. Lacking the painful (but helpfully indicative) ability to get headaches? Check. Just as you may or may not have been incessantly contemplating over the past few months, I've become more and more scared of even the tiniest bumps... and for what? Yeah, after them I feel a "depressed mood" and even feel a slight raise of pressure in my head. I also, as you wrote, tend to acquire a sort of brain fog. But these "symptoms" are entirely psychosomatic--I guarantee it. In the end, it took a doctor's firm manhandling of my head for me to realize, "Wait... I can totally, like, control whether or not I feel this pressure." (If you're interested, the "pressure" is probably just a result of adrenaline's ability to dilate the nasal passageway)

Please forgive my rambling. I just really want to help you out with this horrible thing that I've think I've come to understand a little bit about.

I comoletely agree with crobert. Even my neuro told me that my anxiety is magnifying the smaller issues I have and I think he is right. Just try to overcome and work around the residual symptoms you have and things will fall into their places overtime . Just don't be carried away by the negativity on this board and remember that every injury is different. Mind over matter it is . You will be fine. cheers !

Two things...
 

Been there... done that... man. I remember losing my gord on my poor mother at the time.

Firstly... that movement is most likely vestibular related...and you get a little shake...and well...ya feel like crap... you aren't sure why...then you are anxious because you don't want it to be that way...and then will it always be this way... SOOOO.... VERY NORMAL to feel that way.

secondly... if you have had any kind of neck trauma...it is more likely to happen because you just don't have enough motor control right now...plus there is a natural delay in the ability of the muscles to kick in to control the neck from such movement.

so...what do you do... just riiiiiide this episode out... rest... drink plenty of fluids...

hang in there.