Can turning your head really fast side to side cause brain damage?
 

Hi, this is my first post and I’m sorry if this question may seem silly but I’m suffering from OCD about brain damage and was wondering if using your palm to push against the jaw (not slapping but pushing) to rotate the head can cause a concussion? Someone did this to me (but it wasn’t hard) but a few hours later my anxiety kicked in and I gave into my compulsion and did the exact same thing to myself a few times but I did it somewhat harder and faster to reassure myself it can’t do damage but I am now extremely worried of whether I have caused any brain damage.

Thanks in advance and I have now learned to resist my compulsions :)

Asad,

You need help, professional help. Your Obsession to double check this movement is not good. A single quick turn is not damaging. A couple quick turns is not damaging. BUT, it you get stuck doing these quick turns until you notice symptoms, you are starting to cause damage.

If you bumped your head into the wall and felt no symptoms, would it sound reasonable to repeat that bump with increased force until you caused symptoms just so you know the injury threshold?

Accidental bump 1. Intensity of 1... no symptoms
Intentional bump 1. Intensity of 2... no symptoms
Intentional bump 2. Intensity of 3... no symptoms
Intentional bump 3. Intensity of 4... no symptoms
Intentional bump 4. Intensity of 5... no symptoms
Intentional bump 5. Intensity of 6... Some symptoms

OK, The accidental bump was not damaging since the treshhold for symptoms is Intensity of 6.

Does that sound like a reasonable thought process?

Thank you for the reply. I know this is an unhealthy thing to do and I’ve been getting some help to stop it after this happened, but do you think it’s likely I could have caused damaged by this? In total I probably did it around 4 times and I used my palm to push against my jaw but I didn’t apply much force and I sort of made my neck follow the direction of the force.

Sorry, I'm not even going to validate the question with an answer.

Asad,

You have to stop over analyzing these scenarios because the anxiety will give you concussion like symptoms. I have been thru this several times. When you feel over anxious about these type of situations, don't look for answers because its pointless. Your gonna wear yourself out for nothing. Please, don't re-enact these scenarios, your doing yourself no favors.

I have learned to live with my anxiety and I have "out smarted" my anxiety with logical common sense. You didn't get brain damage.