Major Setback
 

Hi all,

Unfortunately after having a good year with a decent amount of progress and without much in the way of setbacks, I have officially had a major setback.

I was doing really well this summer, working about 30 hours a week and going out with friends and traveling on the weekends. I was still experiencing some symptoms (fatigue and dizziness) but was determined to just push through and live my life like I used to before my TBI. But I think I must have overdone it because for the past month I have been very very dizzy. It feels like all my vestibular symptoms I had gotten rid of are back and worse than ever. I've been getting bad headaches again, reading/computer time is more challenging, I feel my balance is off and I am disoriented a lot. I've been spending a lot of time just laying down and resting.

I am just trying to keep my head above water and go to school (I'm taking 3 classes this semester, and I have only 3 more to go after that). I had hoped to work part-time as well but that seems out of the question right now. I am definitely going to go back to Vestibular Therapy.

But honestly I'm really depressed. I can't stop crying and I have no appetite or interest in anything. I don't even want to go to school but I know if I leave this semester I'll never go back and get my degree. I feel like I can't be autonomous from my parents because my financial situation is really bad. I'm turning 26 soon and then I won't have any insurance for my therapies. I just want to live a semi-normal life but even if I finish school I don't know how I can manage working full time with the constant dizziness I feel, let alone try to balance a social life on top of that. It all just seems to be too much.

I don't want this to seem like a pity party, I know we're all struggling. But I just don't know what to do anymore. Any advice or kind words would be helpful. Thanks.

Mother of Dragons -

Don't lose hope! The dizziness is most likely causing you to have physical anxiety. When you do your vestibular rehab and get that dizziness under control again, I bet that anxiety and sadness will get much better! I'm sorry you are having a setback.

MoD,

This has happened to many. As you admit, you likely overdid it. Many of us have to learn a new set of limits. We may be able to exceed those limits from time to time but not without needing to trade some other activity.

For most, the overdoing it has to do with over-stimulation. Too much audio or visual stimulation or both. Poor diet, either in not eating enough right stuff or worse, consuming bad things. Getting buzzed or dehydrated can be a problem.

It is a challenge to find that new limit but being honest with ourselves about the 'pushing through' times is usually a good start.

I hope you can find that compromise between living your old life and staying free of relapses. It tends to get worse once we hit our late 30s or early 40s.

My best to you.