Question
 

Is it common to experience wild swings in how you feel?

I can have a day that makes me believe I will be myself again and a return to full health is just around the corner. The next day or 2 I am knocked flat, Humpty Dumpty style...broken and unrepairable.

Sometimes energy, work and independence seems so distant.

Anyone ever feel like they don't want to be touched or afraid to use their body for fear it will start a bad chain reaction? I get out for walks daily and mild exercise but every day I need to convince myself it will be ok to to that.

Not trying to be a bummer to anyone, just wondering. I keep thinking I couldn't have been hit hard enough to do all this.

Thanks, Bud

It seems normal to me.

This happened a lot during my last concussion. I would feel great and go to classes, go to work, and then the next day I'd be laid out.

It's happening with my mild concussion now as well. The past week I felt like I was coming very close to being healed. And these last two days I've felt pretty terrible. Probably a result of going out and about and doing more, spending more time on the computer - who knows?

I've had a lot of injuries and illnesses in my young life, but head injuries have by far been the worse. There's no clear timeline, and it's frustrating.

Yeah happens to me all the time, during the bad days I just tell myself that this is the depression talking, just wait until tomorrow and everything will be fine and it usually is.

Welcome to the roller coaster of TBI's. Often hindsight can see something from the previous day that caused an overload but not always. Sometimes, it is sleep related.

I find I need to have simple things to do on those bad days so I do not make things worse.

You are definitely not alone with these struggles.

My best to you

I experience the same things.

Here is a few things that are worth a shot that have worked for me to have more uplifting days.

I made myself a morning routine of when I wake up I get onto my computer and watch a few videos that have me in them from random events before the injury. I also look at pictures from these events also. It sort of reminds me the way things were before. It may just be false hope but it seems to work well for me to at least make a terrible moment a bit better.

Also I write things down I did throughout the day that brought me to feeling better even if just momentarily.

I hope this helps

Total rollercoaster here as well. When your depressed mood justifies wearing the same clothes for days in a row there is definitely a problem!

Those days always follow a string of overtaxing days, so as they say moderation is key--usually easier said than done.

I am recently substituting homemade chia seed drinks instead of fish oil capsules and noting some improvements in endurance, so might be worth trying...nothing to lose!

Grace

Yup. rollercoastering as I call it is part of the struggles we have.

Ive used some coping strategies that I was taught in cognitive therapy, but they dont always work. I myself have horrible response control and no filter since this last injury. If something wants to come out, or wants to happen, its going to. I just need to try my best to step back and evaluate the situation slowly. Sometimes im able to, sometimes im not. If im completely overloaded by a situation, theres no control and whatever happens happens. If im in a calm, quiet enviornment and something like this comes up, I can usually keep my composure.

I cannot tell you the amount of times ive misintrepeted what someone has typed, or said simply because of processing issues. Ive had to do a lot of apologizing this past year simply because of it.

Its part of the injury, just try to be as self aware of it. The more you know, the easier it is to identify and cope with.

Thanks for the info Gang....your time is appreciated.

I Was just reading some posts about being jostled by car rides, running etc. surprised to read it some as both are a continuing issue with me. I Simply can't run yet...it has really bad affects and bumps in a car can do the same. I would have never suspected these to produce actual problems at 9 months, I thought I have been making it up.

I have a half hour ride to my work site and it can be difficult returning home after just a couple of hours at work doing nothing. Usually a day down the following day. My wife drives me when and if I do go as I simply run out of brain power to quickly.

Have a great evening and new year!

Bud

I want to run this by you all.

I have been really hyper sensitive and aware of every little thing I feel or touch....everything makes me think there is something wrong with me so I worry about anything that can make me feel something. If you give into it the obvious result is to lay there and die so you have to tell yourself that is a lie and move.

It occurred to me today that this just might be another form over overstimulation, being touch sensitive....much like noise or light.

Any thoughts from you veterans?

Bud