Young Adults
 

Young adults are not only the most commonly affected by TBI, but also among those who are in for the roughest emotional ride. When you are 20 years old, you are still just establishing an identity. I have found this to be the scariest and most challenging thing. This injury has completely shaken my confidence and sense of self, in a stage of life when I need all the confidence I can get. Moving out for the first time and going to a University are not the easiest things to do with PCS. Class is a struggle, living situation is uncomfortable, and the worst thing is seeing all of the people your age having fun. It sucks feeling like I can't be my age because of this damn head injury. So frustrating. Any other young adults out there?

I feel for you -- so bad. My daughter is in college and couldn't imagine how she would function like this. I also have 2 sons at home who wind up affected by not being able to have me drive them to friends houses, etc. I have to grub rides to baseball games etc.

stay strong...it will pass. You will feel better soon!

I would classify myself as a young adult. I'm 25 years old. I was finally feeling confident in my life, had been in a strong relationship with my boyfriend for 6 months, was half way through my master's program, and was working full time at a job I loved. I finally felt settled and stable, after some really bad emotional trauma in my childhood. My life was going some where.

Then I was in a car accident. I haven't been back to Grad school since the accident 7 months ago. I was fired from my job because I ran out of medical leave. Fortunately my boyfriend has been very supportive, but I feel like I can give him what he needs physically or emotionally because I'm such a mess myself. And I know after 7 months, all the appts, medicines, therapies, my agitation... it wears on him.

I have no idea whether this will get any better.... if I'll ever go back to Grad school, get a job that I love again.... and I'm stuck home alone all day while my friends are out being productive.

Believe me, I understand how bad it shakes your confidence. I am afraid to attempt grad school; look for a job, even part time, get another car....

Hey I hear ya! I am a university student/varsity athlete (hockey). I have had to take a reduced course load; as there is no way I could handle a full course load. In fact, I am still struggling only taking 3 classes and still get headaches frequently. I am not able to do any sort of exercise but still try to stay a part of the hockey team by watching practices/games on the sidelines. I have a few friends that have been through a similar situation, show they have been supportive. But, I do also have friends who don't really understand what I am going through. And I don't blame them because I think its something you can't really understand until you actually experience it. So it is hard when I miss out when my friends go out or hang out late, and they question me why I'm not there.

i know exactly what you mean. ill be 19 next month and today is my 8 month mark of pcs. it really sucks seeing my friends move on in life and having fun while im doing nothing

Hey lindberg! Got some inspiration for ya!

Last December, I was 18 and a freshman in college. I hit the back of my head while showering one day and started feeling very strange. Low and behold, I gave myself a concussion.

Over the next 8 or so months I struggled with Post Concussive. I was very nervous and anxious, had a lot of trouble sleeping, and just felt like I wasn't there a lot of the time.

I know your pain, it was terrible. Dealing with this while starting a new life does suck, a lot.

But here I am, 10 months later, and I'm completely fine. Since returning to college, my symptoms have basically all disappeared. I feel completely fine, I barely even think about how bad the past few months have been!

So stay strong! I know it feels like it drags on forever and it'll never get better, but trust me, it does!

What helped me was staying positive, staying healthy, exercising regularly, and surrounding myself with the people I loved.

Hang in there, it'll get better! :)

-Alex

Thank you very much for this post. This really does inspire me a lot, as it is easy to feel hopeless. I will continue to hold on and wait out this storm. Thanks for the encouragement.

Can you give me some more details about your concussion and symptoms? Thanks!

Comparing concussions and recovery is a losing game. Every concussion is different and every recovery is different.

The fact that things do get better should be accepted for what it is, a general prognosis.

The most of "things get better' is a result of the behavior and attitudes of the subject. Learning and finding work-arounds to the difficulties is the most important. The rest is just time and good nutrition and behaviors.

The anxiety of 'why am I not getting better like so-and-so' is counter productive to recovery.

If asking about another's concussion is for the purpose of supporting that person, then the questions are fine. If it is to compare recoveries, it is counterproductive.

Hi Lindberg711,
I am sorry you are going through this. I understand what your talking about. I'm 24 years old and started back at school full time just two weeks before my injury. It is such a struggle to get through class, complete all of my homework, and just trying to understand it all. My social life has definitely suffered, however my friends have been very supportive and understanding. I am getting married next August and luckily the wedding planning has gone smoothly and hasn't been stressful. Yet I worry that I will still be dealing with my PCS on my wedding day. I also worry about how much it will affect my school work.
Best of luck to you. You are not alone out there. Just focus on you and what makes you feel better physically and emotionally.