PCS- curious if anyone has same symptoms as me
 

hi dont really do this sorta thing but, as title says, i wan2 kno if any1 has the same symptoms as me. 11yrs ago (i was 9 at the time) i was in a car crash, it wasn't serious but i got the usual injuries (whiplash, bruising etc). i noticed immediately that i was v aware of the fact that my mum n bro were sniffing (coz they were cryin, obv) n the noise upset me and made me angry. ova the past 11 yrs the problem has worsened and worsened - noises that upset/anger me are clickin, sniffin, swallowin, tappin, basically alot of diff noises, mainly caused by ppl. i have no idea y the noises upset/ anger me n i feel like a freak n the fact that i have this prob really really upsets me. the anger/upset causes me 2 hit myself (head, arm, leg), dig my nails into myself, bite myself, basically anythin 2 relieve the frustration. n the fact that i do this 2 myself also upsets me!! i have recently been diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome (after having about 20 docs ova the yrs not have a clue wot was wrong!!) since the crash i have seen numerous counsellors (nothin worked) n i'm now on medication, tho that ent workin eitha. i would really like 2 kno of a 'miracle cure' (kno thats not v likely!!) coz it has ruined my life and my childhood. if anyone has experienced the same things/similar things plz tell me if anythin worked.
thanx 4 takin the time 2 read this (jus realised there's quite a bit lol!!)

I have the same problem with noises- not all the time but it does happen and also visual too. It has to do with the stimulation and the fact that a postconcussed brain cannot handle too much stimulation. TV can do it, walking in a mall can do it, some music too- talking etc.

It is because of the attention and concentration required. A PCS brain is struggling to pay attention and deal with basics in thinking to go through the daily activities- when you add distractors- they take the attention away from what the brain is already trying so hard to concentrate on and then basically highjack the brain. They also drain you of energy and when you only have so much cognitive energy in the first place in a bruised brain- it makes it even harder to think.

Somebody told me in passing that is was my reticular activiting system that was responsible and overreacting to outside stimulation. I did some research on that and it is interesting. That is part of brain that kids with ADD and ADHD also have problems with that causes them to get distracted. With PCS it is like having an attention deficit disorder.

I deal with it by avoiding meetings etc with lots of voices that distract. At home or in busy places like airports I wear ipod or cd walkman with quieter music to buffer the outside noise. I watch when it happens- so I know what triggers it- usually I am already overtired or have overdone it in cognitive activity that day or sometimes I just missed a meal and my brain is short on fuel. It gets better with time- now I can attend meetings again but it flares up when I don't take care of things.

It is not fault of people making the noise but it doesn't hurt to educate them too and let them know what your triggers are so they don't take your reactions personally. If you are proactive and avoid situations where you will be triggered that goes a long way. I got caught christmas shopping with the over stimulation and got confused and irritated and dizzy but then I learned to avoid the malls at certain times of day or to make shopping quick in and out to avoid the over excitement.

hope this helps

post concussion syndrome
 

hi there my husband has suffered from this for the last year and has symptons like yours. Do you have any rehabillittion we live in uk and my husband attends a rehab centre for brain injury one day a week ?

hi thanx 4 replying, i live in uk 2. i dont have rehabilitation, no-one's suggested anything like that 2 me. doc suggested Cognitive behavioural therapy so gonna giv that a go, tho 2 be honest i'm willing 2 try anything! went to see a neuropsychologist recently but that was mainly so he could present a report to the courts 4 my compensation claim and at first he 2, like my GP, suggested it could be post concussion syndrome but then backtracked and tried 2 blame my problems on anything else he could, such as puberty and other environmental factors! i find it so frustrating when people dont seem 2 take it seriously and realise how much it affects my life! anywho i appear 2 b ranting now lol! no-one seems to kno what to suggest n the neuropsychologist said so little is known bout the brain n how it works when things like this arise so at the mo i'm not quite sure where i stand!

does your husband have aversion to noises like me? it sounds weird but its strangely gud 2 kno that i'm not the only suffering with this wierd aversion to noises n that there is sum1 else out there who actually understands rather than jus thinkin i'm akin it up 4 woteva reason!

hi emmy
 

hi emmy

sorry you have this and docs run for cover when litigation is mentioned, a good psychologist may be able to help, I get angry with, the silliest things but it is new post TBI so I recon I have leaned to be angry so perhaps I can unlearn, I think it is harder to unlearn, than it is to learn to self harm when we feel angry is to trade one feeling for another but a good psychologist maybe able to help with NLP to teach you a new way of dealing with this try to find a smell like vanilla or chocolate essence or something you like the smell of carry it with you and smell it when you get these feelings or there is a herbal thing called rescue remedy drops that you put under your tongue

just a thought

welcome

hi vini, thanx 4 the suggestions, will try them, tho the smell thing might b lil easier than the gud psychologist thing lol! not sayin all psychologists r bad but they just dont kno wot they're talkin bout when it comes 2 me! gonna try CBT n got my fingers crossed but cant do that 4 another month or so tho i have had it 4 11 yrs so another month ent gonna make that much diff lol!

but yeh i agree wit u n i hav been told its learned behaviour but its gonna b so hard 2 unlearn it, i mean i've grown up wit it! do have 1 question - wots NLP?

hi
 

hi emmy

nuero linguistic programing

before I got mi head smashed in I was a holotropic therapist for a time, and have seen people change so, it is possible I know what you mean about know it all psychologist types, but there are some good ones, but what I leaned was that the person must want to change and that its not easy we would work with drug addicts and peoples fears but thats another story try the smell thing there is a reason for me suggesting it

welcome