Overstimulation?
 

About two weeks ago, I was assaulted and ended up with a mild concussion. I was never unconscious, though there are a lot of things about that evening that I don't remember at all. For the first week, I was in a brain fog, had some aphasia, and was having problems with abstract thinking. Since then, my problems with speaking and thinking have improved a lot. I'm a university student, and this week I've been trying to get back into attending my classes, but I'm still off work. I'm still not allowed to drive or do moderate or heavy physical activity.

I've been reading about concussions, and I keep reading about overstimulation, but nobody defines what it is. Probably four days out of the last six, I'll start to feel not good. Sometimes I'll get a headache and become nauseated, and sometimes I'll start to feel jittery, as if I'd drank two pots of coffee. This usually happens after a class, though today it happened after some really mild physical exertion.

Is that overstimulation? I'm not sure what I still need to be avoiding.

Over-stimulation can be too much sensory stimulation such as sights and sounds and/or it can be too much cognitive effort, over-stimulating the cognitive processing.

You are early in your recovery. If you can reduce stress and over-stimulation, you will enhance your recovery. Sitting for a lecture is likely over-stimulating. You should ask your school's disability department if they can provide a note taker to help you with lectures. But, at the least, talk with your disabilities department to see what assistance they can provide.

My best to you.

It sounds like the symptoms you are suffering from after activity or a lecture is overstimulation. For you.

It's been my experience that the symptoms or signs of overstimulation changed as I recovered and changed based on what was stimulating me or how bad I would get.

My voice and speech still get affected when I'm tired or overstimulated.

But I used to get a swollen feeling in my head or dizziness would increase or any number of other things could happen.

I suspect that the signs and symptoms for each individual may differ too. And that may be why you're having trouble finding a definitive answer about what it exactly does or how to identify it.

Pace yourself. If you start to feel an increase in symptoms, then slow down until the following day or until you recover from them and they diminish.

Grendell--same thing basically happened to me two months ago. It's been an uphill battle; some days are good and some days are awful. Slowly, I feel like things are improving but it takes a tole on you physically and emotionally. Avoid coffee, alcohol, and places/people that put a lot of stress on you.

Let me know if you have any specific questions about your symptoms or in general.

TBI Overstimulation
 

I have been reading a lot about overstimulation on this site. Back in January I slipped and fell on ice and it was determined that I had two blood spots in the front of my brain. I am about 7 months into my recovery- and I have returned back to school- but I still get overstimulated during lectures, interviews, intense questioning, etc. Basically when I feel pressured to retrieve information & apply it to a situation. It especially acts up when I am anxious (presentations, interviews).

Does anyone have any advice, nonprescription medicines or general information about overstimulation? Will it ever get better?

Today I experienced overstimulation. I've been debating moving vs. staying in my place so today my mom and I visited a bunch of apartments and also did a little furniture shopping/browsing. We were out for about 7 hours. I had quite a nasty headache when I got home. That's my version of overstimulation.

YES it does get better. I had one episode two years ago when I went to a baseball game and the whole concrete area in the bleachers was painted a ghastly red paint that just shocked my nervous system. I had to avert my eyes up into the sky to keep from feeling nauseated; fortunately I also took my ear plugs and that helped to dampen the stimuli from the noise of the game. Turned out enjoyable.

You have to gauge for yourself, and pull back/get away from the stimulation when you feel jittery or nauseated or anxious. Know that it gets better with time, but your brain is healing from a bruise and no medication in my opinion can really help with the stimulation problem. It's kind of a symptom that lets you know how well you are improving.

Be gentle with yourself. You're worth it.