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My Concussion and Personality Changes

This has been a creeping journey. Mildly concussed, and diagnosed as such, in January 2012. The over the coming months my whole world and my demeanour began to change.
I had all the usual symptoms; lack of sleep, irritability, headaches that would come and go, lack of concentration , inability to articulate, more emotional responses, lack of sex drive etc etc. This all all became most pronounced in the Fall of 2012. It was affecting my relationship with the man of my life etc etc.
I saw my Doctor in January 2013 and she suggested anti-depressants. i balked--hate meds!! I chose a more naturopathic approach and went to see a highly regarded fascial therapist. Went to him for about 3 months and i was showing slow improvement----but that was to be expected,
then in late April I stopped. you know, busy schedule and all!!
The symptoms began to re-appear but the most concerning were the personality changes.
I took it out primarily
on my partner with indifference , irritability , no intimacy etc, to the point where i recently told him weren`t working any longer.

I am stressed, making rash choices and i am worried.
is all of this `common` with PTCS??

You commented about stopping the fascial therapy (myofacial release ? ) due to a busy schedule. Maybe your busy schedule is a trigger for your relapse. Stress is a major cause of the roller coaster of concussion symptoms. The concussed/injured brain is very sensitive to stress and will easily slip into depression from the stress.

Recovery and maintaining it requires a holistic approach. Take good physical care of the body with diet and rest and take good care of the mind with serious stress reduction. It needs to be a lifestyle change to stay healthy.

Let us know how we can help you.

My best to you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho (Post 994433)

Thank you for that.

I get the stress part--just not that well obviously!!
The week I started to make my rash decisions about my partner-my life-I was just finishing a dramatic body cleanse and had the flu for 2 or 3 days during that period. I was, admittedly, in a weakened state. I guess with that, the mental stress I was just asking for trouble.

My question--in periods like this and with PCS is our emotional and mental guard `down` where we are prone to unreasonable reactions and thinking ?

Just feel so messed up emotionally and physically.

and the topper--maybe-is i am self employed working long hours with no breaks in terms of weekends.

I think I need a recipe for health

thanks for listening

A body cleanse is a very physically stressful event. The toxins that are released must be purged before the brain can take advantage of the cleansed system. I suggest you consider the time of and week after a cleanse as high risk times for making good decisions. It is just like the woman who knows that she should be limiting these decisions because she has a emotionally violent monthly cycle.

As PCS sufferers, we need to set these same boundaries for ourselves, both to protect ourselves and to protect those around us. Many of us know we have to routinely take on tasks and activities that will trigger symptoms. We are wise to plan how to interact with life and others during and after these times.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho (Post 994478)

Thank you Mark.

Sounds like the combination of the body cleanse and the PCS has really affected me.
I must get back to basics here as I continue to stress about my work, kids and relationship.

Thank you

MJC

MJC1864,

I have found an antidepressant called Cymbalta very helpful in reducing symptoms, aiding sleep and reducing migraine. I am now back working, have a full life and good relationships with my wife and children.

It is up to you at the end of the day, but I am really glad my Doctor suggested this medication because it took me 5 months to get back to work again. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJC1864 (Post 994451)

Thank you for that.

My question--in periods like this and with PCS is our emotional and mental guard `down` where we are prone to unreasonable reactions and thinking ?

Hi MJC1864. In direct response to your question, the answer is a resounding yes, unfortunately. Acutely impaired judgment is a hallmark of brain injury. People make bad decisions, react to inner rage, say and do things that make little sense even to the person doing it.

The following is a bit long. It is notes that I've kept on behavior issues, particularly anger, as this is a problem especially for me...

Quote:

GENERAL

“Anger is a special problem in the World of Head Injury.”

“Head injury survivors may experience a range of neuro*psychological problems following a traumatic brain injury. Depending on the part of the brain affected and the severity of the injury, the result on any one individual can vary greatly. Personality changes, memory and judgement deficits, lack of impulse control, and poor concentration are all common.”

“Feelings of anger and alienation are common after brain injury.”

“Head injury gives many people a short fuse–they get angry over little things, and they get angrier than most people.”

“Family members of individuals with TBI often refer to the injured person having a "short fuse," "flying off the handle" easily, being irritable or having a quick temper.”

FROM THE CODEPENDENTS

“My son sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) that has turned his life upside down. He has NEVER had a criminal record or even as much as a parking ticket. Since his accident, he has been charged with terrorstic threats to his exwife and her father, harrassment and disorderly conduct (all charges are from the same case) … and only lives with me now because he has seizures, black outs, and extreme pain from his fall. Again, any advice is appreciated. God Bless… And please remember this is a good person were talking about. Always helpful to anyone who needed it. This injury has made him a person I no longer recognize and I’m so scared for him…”

“My husband has never been able to keep a job due to his outbursts.”

“My son, now 18, had explosive anger. I have holes in my walls. My bedroom door is broke, from when I tried to lock myself in my room. He put his fist through a class window, which required more than 20 stitches, tore a nerve, and required surgery. He now has virtually no use of his right hand. After a night of trying to hurt himself he ended up on the psych ward.”

“Sometimes he gets so angry I'm not sure what is best to do.”

“He has become...violent is the only way I can put it. It's like a light switch and anything can set it off and once it’s on he wants to kill everyone and everything. We've been married for 3 months now, and I just need someone to talk to.”

FROM TBI SURVIVORS THEMSELVES

“Ever since I got hurt, I have unexplained anger crop up on me. I just get sooo mad. Look out world. I have started running into a room by myself when this happens and just yelling and crying and cussing until I calm down. If anyone tries to follow me I SCREAM at them to stay away. (I never used to be this way).”

“I think the same things that made me mad before make me mad now but now I can’t control my anger.”

“I have to constantly remind myself not to react (or overreact ) to what is being said or even sent in an e-mail, as my mental processing is askew. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt if and when there is a question in my mind as to the intention of their comment, as I can no longer trust my gut instincts for verbal and nonverbal cues. Lots and lots of self talk! Of course if I am tired, the whole self control thing goes way out the window!”

“It does explain why I was "off" socially... just don't know where the line is, what is socially appropriate to say: I'm disinhibited.”

“People couldn’t understand why I made certain choices, and they didn’t comprehend why I would react the way I did when I was told my actions were inappropriate. It’s not because I’m mean, stupid, crazy or retarded; it was because I had a head injury–and my brain was doing the best it could given the circumstances.”

“I don't blame you for how you feel about your son. You are in mourning. I "lost" my husband 2.5 years ago. He "lost" me in the same accident. We both sustained a TBI. His was much worse. We separated last October and will probably be moving to make it permanent. He can't control his rage and I can't control my sadness. A TBI is described as the greatest heartache. We're too different people, but I am accepting the path that God has put us on. I feel for you and your wife.”

“The major thing is my anger issues. I was always the type of person that when I got angry I would cry. Now I get mad so mad that I think that I could hurt someone. And it happens over stupid things.”

“I recently started having this problem. I'm having random thoughts of hurting myself or loved ones. It's very confusing, and it's taking a toll on me because I would NEVER EVER do something like that. Why on earth am I having thoughts about doing things that I would never even dream of doing? The more I try to get them out of my head, the deeper they seem to imprint. I was reading around online and it seems to be a symptom of GAD and OCD. Wondering if I should mention this to my neurologist...I just don't want him to think I'm crazy.

I had a similar problem before my injury that was a little less frightening, compared to the thoughts I'm having now - I would be standing there talking to someone and have a vision of me punching them in the face. So I guess I've always had this problem but it's just recently got worse. Weird.”