How do you deal with minor bumps on the head?
 

Since my concussion, I have noticed a significant intolerance to minor bumps that previously had no effects. Small bumps can cause an immediate relapse of PCS symptoms for me.

For example, today one of my friends hit my head with his sweater (he forcefully threw it on my head). I know it's not a concussion (because even though he smashed it with force, it's only a sweater and couldn't cause much damage because it is soft and shouldn't deliver too much force), but I started feeling really bad about 30 minutes later.

I actually felt fine this morning but this bump made all my symptoms return, and now I feel terrible. Is it because of the anxiety, or because of the bump itself? Again, it was sort of a whiplash hit, but I immediately convinced myself it couldn't be damaging to my brain. Despite my attempts to avoid anxiety, this little bump ruined my day and now I feel a strong headache along with brain fog.

What should I do about such things?
Do you also experience a similar insensitivity to bumps on the head?

Many experience such a sensitivity. I believe it is anxiety in many cases. After the initial contact, the "Was that hard enough to cause damage ?" though takes over and the resulting anxiety causes brain fog and even head aches.

It's best to learn to just ignore these head contacts.

I would agree a large part of it for me was anxiety with head bumps,but everyone is different. I thought every bump would set me back. As I progess anxiety wise I find I dont worry as much if I hit my head although it is more sensitive to movement to be sure.

Mark,

Thank you for your comment. I'm soon starting CBT treatment, but do you think I can really get rid permanently of the anxiety of hitting my head?

I have this fear that this anxiety will stay with me permanently. I just wish I could forget that I got a concussion, everything would've been easier this way.

Do you think it is possible to 100% get rid of the anxiety of hitting my head? When I say 100%, I mean that even when I get a small bump on the head I wouldn't think for one second that it might be a concussion (I'll just not care). Do you think it's a possibility?

MVTBI,

I'm glad to hear you progress anxiety wise! I'm quite sure that anxiety can make recovery longer and more difficult, so you might notice yourself healing faster the more you get rid of your anxiety.

I'm trying to get rid of my anxiety right now and I'll hope I'll make a progress as well.

Thank you both very much for the replies,
-ProAgonist

Pro,

You are the only one who can make the anxiety of hitting your head go away. The CBT requires your focused participation. I would not worry about whether it can work 100% and just do it and apply yourself. Your perfectionism is your enemy. You have knowledge about Ritalin and such but appear resistant to knowledge of impact forces and such. The impact force of an thrown sweater would hardly register yet you got anxious. You are knowledgeable enough to know that the impact force was extremely low.

Pro,

You can succeed if you are committed. As Mark says, it is up to you but very doable.

Don't be discouraged if it is difficult...keep going forward.

Bud

ProAgonist,

I too have a recurrence of symptoms with even minor bumps. I am in a run of several unrecovered injuries on top of one another, so at this point, a very small bump causes problems for me. (Grazing my head against the side of a wall, or even throwing myself exhaustedly back on the bed is too hard.) Everyone wonders how I hit my head so much. I think they also "bump" or "graze" their head like that, but it just doesn't affect them because their head is not a bruised up mess.

As for the anxiety, I have done some CBT and it is effective. Fear is an appropriate response in the case of real danger, and you can learn to distinguish that. Best wishes.

Julie