Coping with Severe Anxiety
 

What strategies do you guys employ to deal with severe anxiety following a hit to the head? I understand that being irrational and invoking anxiety will not help me improve, regardless of whether I am concussed or not, but it almost always takes over.

I understand this is common for many who post on and visit this forum, but there must be something I can immediately and consistently do following a hit that will not allow the anxiety to wreak havoc. Do I bury it? Do I try to use logic? What specific strategies does everyone use?

Last week, I had a pretty good wack to the head, and I struggled with it for several days, and even now when I think about it, my anxiety spikes. I was speed walking in a hotel, and I hit the top of my head on one of those exit signs (I'm 6'6" so these things happen).

I was aware of the hit, had no lapse in focus , concentration, nor any immediate symptoms, but as soon as it happened, I shrunk to the ground, put my hands on my head and began analyzing it. I then sat in the hotel room for 15 minutes in a corner with my eyes wide in absolute shock. I definitely had a severe adrenaline rush as well.

When I started getting brain fog yesterday, I thought it could be delayed symptom onset. Over the weekend, every moment was accompanied by the fear I wouldn't be as well as I was beforehand because I was concussed.

I am irrational, and when I cannot use logic or physics to analyze a hit, I am a total wreck. I was never an anxious person before my original TBI (the details of which are in another post), and generally the only time anxiety affects me is in the event of a hit to the head.

How do I cope? How do I trust that everything will be ok? I'm simply afraid that I will lose who I am if I get another concussion, and I don't know how to deal with that.

This was a slight rant, but I know there are many who frequently visit this forum that have far more experience dealing with anxiety and concussions, and I would love some insight. Thanks in advance.

This sticky thread has some links with ideas & info-
Anxiety, bumps, symptoms , treatment info links

We also have - Anxiety and OCD A support forum -- for all anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)forum that may have helpful topics & tips -
https://www.neurotalk.org/anxiety-and-ocd/


If you seem to bump your head or stumble more that you did before a concussion..
Explore -
proprioception affected after concussion - Google Search

cognitive behavioral training (CBT) has been mentioned in other posts here also..

More info -
cognitive behavioral training (CBT) - Google Search

Hemp-derived CBD oil does wonders for both anxiety and depression from what I've heard. Also do light-moderate cardio exercise like stationary bikes. Get some blood flow going on, that usually reduces my anxiety.

Tb,

If this is the only area where you have anxiety and you don;t have other health anxieties or and of the various anxieties, You mighty need to find somebody who can help you deal with irrational thoughts.

The research shows that the vast majority of people who struggle after suffering a concussion have a long history of anxiety and depression and dealing with stress. Adding concussion issues is often the extra load that overloads the person.

I've seen many here on NT over the past decade who continued to struggle until they got professional help and often medications that allowed them more control over the irrational thought. Once they get control over the irrational thoughts, they often can reduce or end the medication.

You need help breaking a bad habit and help to keep from returning to that bad habit.

I do not have irrational thoughts but I do have irrational thought behaviors like getting suck looping on a meaningless concept. I take 5-HTP and L-Theanine each day and can manage this exhausting symptom.

Wear a padded hat like the Ribcap - Soft Protective Special Needs Helmets for Adults & Children - Ribcap
It will give you a sense of security and reduce the impact from future head bumps. (I wear one everyday and then one day I forgot and felt vulnerable and exposed without it.)

While the impact force from those head bumps most likely isn't enough to cause a new injury, it is enough to trigger an inflammation response and the inflammation is what causes the symptoms. Plus anxiety can contribute to the inflammation.

So take a double dose of Curcumin and Fish Oil (both are anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective), rest a couple days to allow the inflammation to subside, then gradually resume your previous activity level.