is my anxiety feeding into my symptoms?
 

I think my anxiety is getting worse. (Not taking any meds for it). I obsess over every feeling in my head ...just isn't normal. I worry that I'm doing too much...or not enough.

Is the anxiety making me worse? How do I stop it?? And..how do I know how far to push myself?

I would bet that your anxiety is making you days worse. My suggestion is to sit down with anybody who is available to help and prioritize your days. Most of us try to do far more than we NEED to do.

Try to establish a routine of just the basics. Give yourself permission to rest. Give yourself permission to ask others for help. Explain that you are asking for help because you want to give your brain and body a rest.

There is no room in PCS for pride or ego. As you humble yourself , first to yourself, then to those around you, you will greatly lower your stress level and anxiety level.

The scripture verse under my name is very important to me. I had to learn to "Be still" so I could observe what was happening to and around me.

If we are always trying to make things happen, we have no time to understand what is happening.

Once you have your daily priorities in your grasp, you can slowly start adding a task at a time. When you do, you need to be prepared to stop if you sense that a need to push to get the task done.

You have an opportunity to influence the stress levels of all around you. As you slow down, you will begin to notice the anxiety of those around you. Then, as you ask them for help, you can direct them to a slower pace that will accommodate your needs. They will be learning to slow down their pace, too.

Stay away from caffeine and try to help those around you do the same, or at least lower their caffeine level. Their stress/anxiety/caffeine push will impact you.

Caffeine is an anxiety producing agent. It's only beneficial use is first thing in the morning for those who do not get enough sleep.

Now, I have just gone off like a fire hose to a simple question. And, I don't ever consume caffeine except the small amounts in chocolate. Even a guy has to have his chocolate.

Well Happy New Year and my best to you.

Mark... My problem is that this weird feeling in my head is brought on by everything reading talking computer tv etc. I now physically have so much energy but my rain can't handle much. I can't go grocery shopping or to a mall so even getting out hasn't been happening.

I just don't know how to occupy the day while I'm healing. I physically can do everything and have the energy.

What can I do to entertain 6 hours while the kids are at school wothout tv or computer?? (I use my blackberry here).

My anxiety is when will this be over so I can get out and back to my old life??

Help please

Same Here
 

I know what you mean for the past 2 years almost every waking moment at least in the back of my mind (if not in the front) I was thinking about PCS.
Is what I am doing now going to have consequences? What the heck is wrong with me? I sure hope this isn't really, super serious! What can I do?!?!? Everything causes pain but I can't just lie in bed!
For me I still can't remember the 10 hours surrounding the accident and I have only vague memories of that entire year, so I also have a lot of questions about what happened. People don't understand my desired to fill in the blanks, so only slowly have they been revealing details, but this makes me even less able to stop thinking about it.

All I can suggest is maybe write it down, or find one person who is willing to listen all day long for a year about your worries and highs and lows. Some way of getting it out because inside it will just fester.

But, to answer your question yes worry does make things worse, but bottling it up or drugging up does not seem to treat the start of the problem.
I think don't stress about it just let it out somehow.

First make certain that you aren't going to die...ie, get an MRI and MRA of your head and neck to make sure you aren't bleeding or have bubbles floating around, then start finding little things you can do and slowly work up your ability to do them for longer or finding new things to do.
Lastly DO NOT HIT YOUR HEAD AGAIN!!!! Do Not Even Shake It!!!

Good Luck!
Margarite

I have no memory issues...luckily. I just have this weird feelings in my head... For instance talking on the phone 20 mins makes me feel lightheaded and dizzy..then it passes a little ..very strange and scary.

My anxiety is not being able to fill my day...after a few mins of tv my head gets that feeling..same w computer. It seems everything makes me feel like that... I can only read a few pages of a book at a time. I'm just soooo bored! I want this pcs over!!

aireyden,

Do you have any manipulative hobbies? Sewing, knitting, and such. The use of your hands may be tolerable. Cross stitch, rug hooking, painting, etc.

I asked my wife and she suggested card making. There are various ways. She uses blank card stock folded. She stamps images onto the front, glues colored or print paper to it, Uses chalk with eye makeup wands to color and add highlights, etc. It is a low intensity activity that my wife uses for some creative expression and use of her time.

Over time, she has become quite good at it. Some people develop a production line and sell the cards. My wife says that they make great gifts for others to have to write personal notes inside. She said about $25 worth of supplies will get you started.

Activities that require use of your hands have a natural slower pace to them. They also have a sense of being productive.

Years ago, I would flit around the house from one activity to another as I would start to space out from the prior activity. I spent a lot of time watching old movies. They did not have the intensity of images and dialogue to overload me.

Hope these ideas give you some direction. I know how bored I was. I used to take my dogs on long walks until the fields where we walked got developed into houses.

My best to you.

Thank you Mark. I have noticed that I can knit...and actually a little more than I was ale to a few weeks ago (still on the same scatf). I started a sweater over the summer but put it away after the concussion. I'm taking that out tonight.

I also found that if I read only a few pages at a time I'm ok...so I'm in a good romance book. Danielle steel has just a few characters in her books makes it easy bec I have to keep putting it down.

Thanks for your help Mark.

Hope we can help you too!