What about reading a book...is that VERY stimulating?
 

Like a nice low key romance book...or is reading too much?

Kids have to go to school with concussions...so why not -- what will happen...headache or more fatigue??

For a long time I had to adjust my reading level down to very light reading for limited times. I could handle children's chapter books (I think aimed at the upper elementary/middle school age group). I've improved a lot but sometimes when I need a brain break I just rest and/or do light reading. For me that is restful (I am a serious read-a-holic). One of the ways I knew I was improving was my ability to gradually increase the reading level, part of the time I can read like a grown up. Happy, Happy! I don't think it has changed much for the past 6 months or so. Just like everything else, take it slow and cautious, you'll figure out what works for you.

In my experience, the challenge with reading is the "How many balls can you keep in the air at once" problem. If the writer is very descriptive, there may be too many descriptive terms to process at once. The other struggle is remembering all of the characters and plots/subplots.

I read Huck Finn a few weeks ago. It worked great because it is a linear story. Not much back and forth. More like a journal. I tried starting Tom Sawyer. It has much more back and forth and descriptive writing. I will be trying to read it more when my replacement Nook arrives in a few days.

btw, My in-laws gave me a Nook and I think it is a good possibility for my brain. The screen has short line length and very little to distract me. I only see one page at a time. Not like a normal book where your brain sees both pages.

I suggest experimenting with different writing styles. Use a piece of paper to follow the lines and cover the text below where you are reading. There are lots of tricks to minimize the visual impact.

If I try to read a magazine, I HAVE to remove all of the card stock inserts and stiff pages. They annoy and distract me too much.

My reading tolerance changes during the day. In the morning, it is very short. later in the day, I become more tolerant of the effort.

Experiment with the idea that frustration is not an acceptable response. If you overload, just stop, rest up and try something different the next time. I have spent 10 years learning how to deal with these issues, learning the most in just the past 4 years.

My greatest skill is being able to not get frustrated. I used to be totally intolerant of frustration. When I start to get frustrated, I have learned to "Turn the page" and go on to something else. Those I know in TBI support group who do best use this turn the page concept. In fact, that is where I learned the term, Turn the page.

Enjoy what reading you can do. And please be patient until you find the reading you can enjoy.

My best to you.

maybe I didn't ask the question right. I can read and understand everything.. no problem there. I just don't want to bring on the dizzy/headache and fatigue symptoms by stimulating my brain too much.

I have no comprehension issues -- my issues are more tolerance. Having conversations for a while with my parents will bring on my head feeling weird...then the headache comes full force and fatigue

My reading ideas are to lower the over-load factor. It is some of the things I have done to allow me to read without becoming over-stimulated.

If I try to read overly descriptive writing, my brain gets overloaded with all the details, not from a comprehension level but instead from a simple overload. I will quickly get very tired and need to stop. Sometimes, I will catch myself rereading lines without any reason but that my brain has overloaded and checked out.

Maybe my reading struggles are entirely different than yours. We stopped taking the newspaper because my wife could tell that I was becoming mentally tired from reading it. For me, it is more like my brain just 'checks out' leaving me in zombie land. I would need to take a nap so my brain could recharge.

I wish I could help you more.

My best to you.

There is no way I could read right now other than quick short stuff. You will know if it causes you symptoms.

Will reading leave me with a slamming headache tomorrow like every other thing does?

Computer seems to make my head feel weird... but I don't think I have that with a book.

I have no comprehension problems...just the slamming headache or fatigue I'm concerned about.