Hi Sam,

It is very frustrating when one wants answers to health concerns and can't find them. That said, I am not sorry to hear that your tests were normal. Having a whacked out endocrine system is no walk in the park and can have serious lifelong consequences. It's good news that your tests came back okay.

I will give my two cents, not being a medical expert of course, but having worked in healthcare (medical and mental) for many years.

There is a lot of overlap of symptoms between PCS and depression/anxiety. Many of the symptoms are identical. Trouble concentrating, sadness, disconnection, depersonalization, anxiety, trouble sleeping etc. can result from a concussion or worsen because of it. Or they can exist as a result of depression alone. There may have been pre-existing tendencies that got triggered. The stress of worrying about your health and dealing with high school may have contributed to the whole picture.

It may not matter where the symptoms are coming from, you are having to deal with them. If obvious answers aren't forthcoming and everything major has been ruled out then move on to treatment. Your pediatrician may be on track. It is worth pursuing his/her recommendations for the symptoms that are plaguing you.

Treatment for PCS and depression/anxiety have similar paths. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is recommended for both. Medication can be helpful for both. Although with PCS med side effects may be more pronounced and during adolescence antidepressants can sometimes worsen symptoms so Meds should always be approached with caution and taken at the lowest effective dose.

No matter what is going on, you need support. Working with a therapist would give you this regardless of the cause of your symptoms. You will learn coping skills and cognitive approaches to stress that you can use for the rest of your life. Cognitive therapy is very concrete, not overly touchy-feely and tends to get a pretty rapid response. Your condition is treatable and there is hope. PCS appears to have largely positive outcomes. And we know depression is responsive to treatment most of the time.

Go ahead and get that help your pediatrician is recommending and know that both PCS and the stress of adolescence resolve with time.

Sending healing vibes,

Excellent post and advice for Sam. Thankyou Littlepaw.
I had the same thoughts but couldn't have put it into words as well as you have.

Sam,

Littlepaw has given perfect advice, be reassured. I have little to add.

There is no stigma attached in having Mental Issues, nor - with support - should they stop you fulfilling your life's goals. Early recognition and treatment is key to complete recovery, you have youth on your side. Be fully committed to getting well and the benefits of treatment will be great.

Of course, always come here to talk about any worries.

Dave.

I cannot thank you enough for this post Littlepaw. Thank you so much, and thank you Lara and Dave.


So where do you think I should start? You perfectly worded whats going on and what I can do about, but I'm not quite sure where to start. Should I go to my pediatrician and have him recommend me to a therapist? Or is there a certain therapist I should be going to that will be knowledgeable of depersonalization?



I'm very eager to get started. This makes perfect sense. Depression/Anxiety is overlapping with my PCS symptoms, making it so they cannot fade away.


But I have not been treating my concussion ever since I thought an hormonal imbalance was going on. So does this mean I should stay away from stimulant and such?


Once again, thank you

Thanks Sam, (Thanks Lara and Dave, too)

I am happy to be of help.

Your pediatrician may have a recommendation on a therapist or they may not. Probably the first step is a follow up appointment to apprise them of your testing results and your desire to move forward with treatment. You can ask then if they know anyone. If they recommend medication as well, I would be sure this is something they are really comfortable with skillwise. Prescribing psychiatric meds is something of an art and is sometimes best left to specialists instead of general practitioners. Side effect profiles and withdrawal syndromes are sometimes different for your age. Personally, I would lean towards trying therapy alone for a while unless suicidal thoughts are overwhelming. Of course we all want you to be safe. If you are stuck in distress sometimes meds are helpful in enabling the therapy to do its work. You, your parents and doctor can look at all your options and decide what is best for YOU.

Choose a therapist with experience working with adolescents who is able to establish a rapport with people your age. Rapport is very important and you will progress faster with someone you feel "gets" you. Experience with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a plus but Several modalities may be helpful for you. Having a therapist with a decent toolbox and your motivation to get better is going make a difference.

I worked with a therapist after my nerve injury and found her here...
https://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/

I went from her treatment interests and specialties, we emailed a little and I went for an initial appointment and it was a good fit. Sometimes your insurance company will have a list if you don't find anyone. My therapist was an LCSW but someone with credentials of LPC, LCSW or LMFT will have the training and certification to work with you.

I am so glad to see your motivation and desire for help. This is an excellent starting point. People have an amazing capacity to change. Their motivation level is many times a huge part of their success in bringing change about. You are a special young man Sam and you have grit. I know you will undertake the work with commitment.

Stick with the healthy dietary changes you have made. I cannot advise on avoiding stimulant (media, caffeine?). Moderation in everything is always wise.

Keep being courageous and moving forward, you are stronger than you know.

Littlepaw, you are on fire with your advice here

I wholeheartedly agree that any Therapist must be a good fit, you should have a good rapport and belief in whatever mode of Therapy is being offered. You may be young, Sam, but if you feel you do not get on with a Therapist for any reason, tell your parents and try another. This is very important!

Regarding stimulants and your PCS brain, it will do no harm to follow a PCS regimen again, it can only benefit. As for media/screen time, it is always better to moderate exposure. Over exposure can lead to addictive behaviour and depressive symptoms. With your positive attitude towards healing I hope you will find less and less time for this.

Dave.

I think you're amazing Sam

I'm so happy that you are taking Littlepaw's excellent advice! The tone of your last post seems much more positive... I think that this is the start of much better things for you

You should follow up with your doctor and let him know the path you've chosen to take. Most insurance companies require a referral from your PCP in order to receive mental health services anyway. Some doctors know of good MH practitioners in their networks, and some do not.

I would start off with an appointment with a psychiatrist or MH NP first because I think getting your diagnosis right going forward is important. In my area, most patients see NPs rather than psychiatrists. They have the same ability to diagnose and prescribe. They can also refer you to a therapist.

When I started out, I called a local practice (therapists+prescribers), let them know what kind of insurance I had, told them I needed meds and therapy, and was assigned to a MH NP for diagnosis and a medication plan. This made getting started super-easy for me. I like having my NP and therapist in the same office because they can communicate with one another very easily. Some people choose to go to independent providers instead.

You can search your insurance company's website or give them a call, too. In some areas (like mine), the mental health care system is overburdened, so you may have to make a couple of calls to find a provider who is accepting new patients. Please don't get discouraged.

One thing to consider before you request a therapist is gender. Some people find it easier to talk to someone of one gender better than the other if they have the option. In my experience, there seems to be more female therapists than male though.

Sometimes it's not easy to start out, especially in therapy. It may take some time before you feel comfortable, but it's important to hang in there and give things a chance. That being said, you aren't tied to these people. If you have a hard time connecting with your therapist, or you have an issue with the way your care is being delivered, you can always change providers.

I'll be wishing for only good things for you Sam

Kay

p.s. I'm vitamin D deficient too. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is more easily absorbed in the body than the more common D2 form. I take 5,000iu of D3 three times a week.

Well said, Kay, I also think you are amazing, Sam.

Dave.

I think that one of the most important choices in finding a Psychologist in your situation Sam would be for your parents to find someone who is knowledgeable and familiar with treating patients who have psychological symptoms of Post Concussion Syndrome.

There are numerous associations set up for TBI.

e.g. Someone like the Brain Injury Association in your local area should be able to help.

http://www.biausa.org/state-affiliates.htm
Brain Injury Assoc. - Find your State.

Hi everyone...



So I have an appointment with a psychologist on the 15th. This woman works with children who are still struggling with the effects of a concussion and helps them get back into there normal lives. So I guess that's good right?


Anyway, today I feel so done. I'm so tired of waiting and waiting for this to get healed. I just cant deal with it anymore. I woke up today struggling to get out of bed because I feel worthless. Every single day I do NOTHING. I barely leave the house, and I just play video games all day or lie in my bed and rest. I feel like I dont even matter anymore.


Leaving the house makes my symptoms worse, staying makes them worse, nothing makes it better. I feel trapped.