depression and PCS- your story, advice, etc
 

I'm a 19 year old female college soccer player. I'm not going to get into the details of my concussion and PCS but I've mainly been struggling with EXTREME depression for months now after a relapse in December.

I can't focus on anything, can't read or watch tv, can't sleep, etc.. we all know the drill. As much as family and friends care, they often can't help as much as they would like, simply because they can't relate.

Sometimes I feel as though I'll NEVER be the person that I was. I know that everyone's experience with PCS is different and there is no way to indicate when I'll be better, which is why I'm asking you for your story.

Those of you who dealt with/are dealing with the depression aspect of PCS, tell me your experience- how long it lasted, how you coped, helpful tips and advice, activity level during recovery, medication you were on, ANYTHING. The more details, the better. Having someone I can relate to will help a lot.

Thank you in advance and hopefully I can be a help to you as well.

Kelly

I am in the same boat....although a mom of 3 children(one in college..7th and 4th grades). THey leave for school and I am a mess too.

I'm sick of being lonely...can't talk on the phone much (and i'm a gabber), tv..20 mins at max -- computer 10 mins at a time...barely read...forget magazines and can't sleep without help of some meds...same drill.

I feel all this tingling in my head and i think its from what i was just previously doing...(talking too much on the phone...having a friend over for lunch...driving locally to grocery store). I feel like I'm putting too much on my husband and friends.

I'm not dealing well with it either. So far its been 6 months. I'm seeing improvements, getting out for an hour a day...but on the other hand i'm my worst enemy. I'm afraid I'm doing too much...then won't sleep or huge headache but I'm also afraid I'm not doing enough and just sitting and worrying into headache and no sleep. Understand???

I do rest in between either in a chair witha cup of tea and a mask to just put my head back and relax. I have too much energy to lay down for a nap (although activity out of the house usually makes me come home and lay down).

My friends are probably sick of hearing me crying...as they all say it isn't doing me any good (and I know that). I just want to get out more.

Going for a walk in a few mins with a friend. Maybe that will help.

Good luck...

doesn't the computer bother you???

kelly,

Have you had a complete assessment of your hormone levels done? PCS can play havoc with hormones. You can find a specialist by using this link: https://www.womensinternational.com/..._referral.html

You want a specialist not a generic gyn.

When I was in the bored to death stage, I would take my dogs for long walks. I has access to rural walking patch along irrigation ditches. Being away from the civilized world, so to speak, was very helpful.

Just know that you are not going through anything that many others with PCS have already gone through. Be as honest with yourself and doctors as possible. PCS depression can be a dangerous time. Formulate an escape route to help. I remember the extreme struggle I went through back in my younger years.

My best to you.

hi,

I am truly sorry.

I would talk to people about how you feel a lot, even if they are sick of hearing it, even if they will never understand it, keep them listening and know that they care about you tons and would probably do anything just to see you laugh and smile again.

I would get myself all worked up depressed/anxiety because I couldn't do anything...and didn't feel right (I still dont feel right)....and it did not do me any good

Try to do only activity that you can tolerate with minimal discomfort...

Meds help, Wellbutrin, Zoloft...

pcs depression can be awful....I still deal w it to some degree as I had a bad concussion 17 months ago and am still not "normal"......forget about normal....the sooner you let that go the better....you may not get back to normal, but you will get better....

Walking, laughing, relaxing, singing, dancing, help....even if you feel like complete garbage dump

And you can relax....you are OK...you just hit your head too hard...you may never feel the same about yourself or life, but you can still make a positive change in the world everyday....

Go out and buy a 30 gallon fish tank (or if you don't feel well enough have someone do it for you) and some really cool fish, pick different colored ones and get some fake plants and maybe one of those little castles and just watch them for like an hour.....it is so relaxing and reassuring...I still do it

i know this is an old forum but in case other people who are going through the same issues now also come upon this forum...

Make sure you go see your doctor. Mine prescribed Nortriptyline and it worked wonders almost immediately. I started on just 10mg and that was enough to ease my depression almost 100%. I still had some bad days every now and then during the first week after starting to take it, but I felt renewed after that first week.

My mistake was thinking that, since there is no direct treatment for PCS, my doctor wouldn't be able to do anything (I've had 2 concussion before this one and no treatment was ever given - they just got better on their own). I didn't see my doctor until 4 months after this head injury. Within that time, I almost killed myself...a few times.

As for symptoms I had...I could barely do anything. It was hard to think or move...I couldn't cook or work or read or text...everything was so draining and painful on the mind. I tried to take walks but that usually worsened my symptoms.

I rested as much as I could. I took time off work, dropped all my activities, cancelled all my plans, and just spent a lot of time in bed away from stimulation. I think that may have made my depression worse. I didn't get better and just was bored out of my mind always sitting in a dark room and not talking to others. I tried to ease back into light activities/exercise and it felt great, but then my symptoms would just come back worse afterwards.

Insomnia was probably the worst problem I had, and I still have issues now. I tried melatonin, "sleep phones" that my friend bought me that plays loops of tracks that are supposed to help you sleep, white noise machines, etc etc. Some seem to work well for a bit, but then I'd have the same problems after a while again.

I also tried 5-HTP for mood elevation before I was prescribed Nortriptyline, but I felt like that just made my headaches worse.

Good luck and remember this is just temporary. You will get better (even though it might not seem like that at times). Talk to your doctor and get treated.