Functional neurology success/sudden braking relapse
 

Good news: Been seeing a functional neurologist in a Chicago for a little over a month. I have been able to comfortably so self care things like shampooing, brushing hair, makeup, washing face, etc, again. I’ve been much more comfortable with touch. My moods have been so much more balanced and positive. My vertigo spells are really decreasing. I enjoy loud music again, and wear my earphones. I watch tv and feel fine. I’m feeling progress.
PM me for questions :)

Bad news: I’m having the worst relapse I have in months. Was riding in car, Dad had to slow down suddenly going like 45 miles per hour. He did another sudden break going about 20/25, and surprisingly, that one felt much worse.
Sensitivity to sound, crying spells, pressure headache, nausea, it’s all coming back. I felt tingling and lightheadednsss after the second incident.
It really feels like another concussion, but I’ve read so many posts on here saying these stops can’t hurt your brain.

What’s going on? :( Feeling really discouraged and insecure.
I’ve made so much progress with anxiety and mood issues and touch. Why is this flare up so severe? Is it really just my anxiety coming back!
Also, I spoke to my old neurologist today and he wasn’t concerned about the stops. That’s both reassuring and discouraging because I feel like I’m not as strong with handling these things as I thought I was...

What was your first thought after these slow downs and stops?

If your first thought was "Oh No, More brain damage" or "Did this cause more brain damage?" Both show that you are still feeding your anxiety.

Have you tried to find a CBT therapist who understands Concussion Anxiety Syndrome?

Yea I did have initial anxiety after the stops but my dad stuck his arm out to the side because he knew I was going to be questioning if I had whiplash and I know I didn’t go forward and hit his arm. So I felt better when I thought about that.

I stopped going to my old therapist he didn’t seem to be helping much. I wish there was a way to really seek out someone who specializes in this type of anxiety, like you would someone with eating disorder specialities or something.

Are you participating in your recovery by accepting the facts that these movements are not causing injury?

A car cannot stop and cause more than 1.6 Gs of deceleration. If it stopped an maximum braking, you would need to smack your head into the dashboard or something solid with a serious force.

It takes 20 Gs to be a subconcussive impact. 60 Gs for a concussion.

You need to drill and review these facts and repeat them out loud so you hear them.

I usually do try to repeat the facts but in this case I was more focusing on the fact that I didn’t whip over my dad’s arm. The ones you stated though I will continue to repeat to myself. In general I’ve been feeling good about little anxieties I have had recently, but I was not expecting the strong flare I’ve gotten after this.