Catch 22: Stress or Over Stimulation
 

As any of you who are familiar with my situation know, I am under immense amounts of stress. I am having trouble occupying my time. I'm trying to accept my reality and be as happy as possible but it's very difficult with all that in dealing with. I cannot do much without overstimulation but resting only seems to fuel stress and anxiety let alone depression.

I've come to the conclusion that pushing myself out of bed and doing something even if it causes some symptoms is the only way I'm going to survive. I am unsure if this is the way to go but I feel I have no other choice. I have tried taking it as easy as possible and this only ends up with me stressed and depressed which can't be good for recovery.

I'm coming up on 17 months post first concussion and know that I can improve to back where I was in August before the stress of moving and my brother dying completely derailed me. No further injury yet my symptoms have been worsened to their highest level.

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions on how to deal with this? I've been trying to exercise lightly and slowly expose myself to light but I haven't noticed any real improvements. I am still unable to tolerate lights that I was under all day in November. This is quite a frustrating situation, because like I said, I haven't reinjured myself - just stress and overstimulation I guess. I fear that these latest changes are permanent and I want to see some kind of improvement like in August.

I sleep a lot. That helps me. :winky:

I think you are right in stepping out and pushing your limits. Get some dark sunglasses and get outside. I have no idea what kind of outdoor activities there are where you live so I am clueless as to making a suggestion.

It is very helpful to find something productive to do. Tasks with a final product fill a psychological need. Is there a place to go fishing ? A community garden to get planted ? Yard work to do for yourself, family or others who have a need ?

Doing things to help others can be doubly good.

One of the things that helped me early on was decluttering my house.. I did not have very much energy those first few months so I would take one drawer or cupboard at a time and organise it . I also got busy in the kitchen - started with simple recipies with just a few ingredients. That proved to be very calming working with my hands and the comforting aromas of food cooking. Plus I eat way better than I used to. If you can do some simple yoga or tai chi that might help stretch your muscles and relax you. All kinds of short instructional videos on youtube.

Once I could get outside more I walked, not very fast or far but I got out of the house. Don't know if you have access to woods or parks near you but I find being out in nature very grounding. Even if I was just leaning against a tree or sitting on a bench I can calm myself when I get overstimulated by feeling the texture of the tree bark or watching the birds.

I was feeling similar to you in that doing nothing made the depression far worse. My neuropsych told me I can go for slow walks now that my symptoms have eased a bit. Not supposed to increase heart rate because she says that it causes extra blood flow to the brain and that causes swelling and headaches. Maybe we Canadians get different advice? Lol

At first I though slow walks weren't going to make me feel better...but they do. Unless I walk too fast and then I get a headache afterwards. I've come to love my walks simply because I know I'll feel a bit better afterwards. I used to Hate walking. I ran. :)


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You're Not Alone
 

DannyT,

I lost my Mom last August and now find myself alone in a big house. I too have not been able to adjust to my situation, just going from day to day looking at the kinds of recovery times well documented here, with friends and family more out of touch . . depressing, though naturally so. I fear that awful unnatural anxiety more. In '07, interestingly, I was in a similarly slow situation, basically shutting my body down for an entire year trying to heal a labral tear in my hip--that got gloomy too but was much easier than what we face here because it was at least a linear progression. Here we have weird symptoms and uncertainty.

I too feel much better when I get out of the house and go somewhere. But I think people like you and me need some kind of routine and go-to kinds of things, suggested by some of the posters here. I hope to make walking one. It's tough at first because we are clueless. But I too worry than I might not make it, only in my 8th week overall (4th since the second blow to the head) . .

Danny,

I started out walking slow and short too.

I added some swimming and now gym time again.

I found I had to pay attention to symptoms and determine their source....was it from anxiety or physiological.

If I felt it was strictly anxiety I pushed, physiological I listened to and still have to do the same.

I still get strange symptologic nuances from exercise but I prefer the benefits of activity as opposed to sitting around avoiding all symptoms.

Bud