The “flat” effect/watered down emotions
 

Anyone had any success in treating the “flat” effect or watered down emotions after their injury? Along with “slow” thinking at times?

I feel like my focus is just not there at times. I feel slow mentally sometimes.
I feel like fortunately I don’t have the heavy depression that was there after my initial injury. But I still feel like my emotions are weaker than they used to be. Or simply the lack of intense pleasure. I’m not always as excited about things that used to get me really hyped up. I feel like when I think, I don’t think as rapidly and enthusiastically as I did before.

For example, sometimes I used to hear just the start of a song, and it would inspire ideas in my mind and I’d think back to a memory and have all of these flooding emotions. Now I just sort of hear the music and I know I like the song, but I don’t get that “magical feeling” inside.

It sounds bizarre. But it’s like I walk around and the world is foggy and everything is not as colorful as it used to be. I’m doing alright, I get joy out of things at some levels. It’s just not as intense as before, and more foggy at times too.

I have had severe bouts of flat affect and fog. I've also bounced back as well. Focus is a struggle of mine and this plays into brain injury region I believe.

What causes those for me may be different than you.

#1) Nutrient levels

I found that once I started incorporating NAC, a precursor to the antioxidant glutathione, I could "feel" again. I also do well with fish oil, vitamin C, vitamin D, niacin, b vitamin complex, and lion's mane mushroom.

There's a book called "Why Isn't My Brain Working?" and in the book, the doctor says that brain fog is essentially caused by brain inflammation. He discusses how he reduces the inflammation/fog in the book with flavonoids.

Once our brains are injured, nutrients are used up and sometimes we need more than pre-injury to function.

#2) Food allergies and brain insulin resistance.

If I want brain fog, I eat carby foods. My brain clarity falls dramatically with wheat and dairy based foods as well as sugary and high-carb, processed foods.

#3) Emotional. This affected me early into my concussions and thankfully not anymore (that I perceive). but the shock of losing abilities and identity was a major player into my numbness at the time.

I find intermittent fasting can help with clarity as well as coffee and tea, but I crash with those, so I keep that in mind. Exercise can get some blood flow going as well.

Sometimes things such as candida or other infections can be in the brain and result in fog.

I DO NOT think anything you said is bizarre!....Still happens to me 13 years later......YOU are not ALONE!