[hardtimes]

what is everbodys symptoms and which is the hardest to deal with?

[Mark in Idaho]

I don't remember.

[jmac51]

The hardest symtom for me to deal with is not being able to run with my kids, because of my bone pain in both legs, and pain in lower back! I really miss being able to rumble with my kids.

jmac51

If you can afford it, I would recommend doing neurofeedback. It has been proven to reduce symptoms by 80% or more. This way, you wouldn't have to worry about what symptoms are worse...

[Mark in Idaho]

Cognitive struggles and memory issues are the worst. The psychological symptoms are the easiest to deal with.

I test as 'good' or normal from a psychological perspective, no depression, no anxiety, but continue to have the same cognitive and memory deficits. I can start a thought to try to resolve a problem and half way through the thought, it disappears and I can not finish the problem resolution.

I like to fix and design things. I used to be able to do many steps in my head with full visualization. Now, I have to do everything on paper or a computer to keep my thought stream available. My hand writing is poor and slow so I will get sidetracked with the task of writing. I can type more directly from my thoughts. Not as much conscious thought into the typing effort as in hand writing.

Many PCS/mTBI people need to resolve the stress issues that cause depression and anxiety issues before they can effectively identify their organic dysfunctions. Anxiety can easily mimic memory and concentration issues as it can be very distracting to the though process. The stress hormones present in anxiety disrupt the brain's attempt to self regulate.

Resolving these stress issues can be worked on with to modalities. Counseling and Cognitive Behavior Therapy linked with good diagnostics (neuro-psychological assessment) and neurotherapies. Volitional neurofeedback can help with the stress as the stress shows up on the qEEG. Learning to lower these mental stress levels can be very beneficial.

For those who can tolerate it, neuro-stimulation has shown promise for some at reducing these mental stress conditions. It is limited to those without a seizure disorder who have access to a good multi-disciplinary rehab team. It is safest when used under the direction of a M.D. Most states require an M.D.'s oversight when it is used to treat the symptoms of a head injury.

The important point, as I have discovered, is to understand your symptoms. Know which are organic and which are psychological. Resolve the psychological or at least separate them from the organic. Then you can work to develop skills to overcome or work-around the organic dysfunctions.

Many PC Physicians will prescribe anti-depressant/anti-anxiety drugs in an attempt to relieve the psychological. This can help with the depression and anxiety but is ineffective without help in understanding the organic dysfunctions. It can leave you 'not anxious' and 'not depressed', but still frustrated by the remaining symptoms.

There can be a progression similar to the different phases of grief that need to be addressed.

I went though those struggles decades ago so I do not have any fresh ideas about how I dealt with the

DENIAL, often supported by "You injury was not bad enough to cause your symptoms." " Lighten up and it will all be better."

ANGER "I can't understand why this is happening to me."

BARGAINING, For the PCS/mTBI, the bargaining is often replaced with "If I only do this, then everything will be better." Sort of a self-help self talk therapy.

DEPRESSION, In PCS/mTBI, the depression can be a cloud that overshadows the whole process. The brain injury can cause an organic depression that needs nutritional and other supports for recovery.

ACCEPTANCE, if you deal with the other issues and have good diagnostics and work-arounds.
OR FRUSTRATION, if you do not have good diagnostics and work-arounds. The frustration can be the start of another round of depression, etc.

[Lucy]

After 8 years the symptons that I am aware of are;

not very good short term memory, trouble with word finding, forgetting what I am talking about mid sentence, poor balance, extreme sensitivity to both noise and light, mental inflexibility, irritabilty, stress about anything whatsoever, massive headaches if I over excercise and the worst is an all consuming fatigue which makes all the symptons worse. I can not cope with any jerky movements either eg. driving too quickly over a road bump.

I can cope with everything aside from the fatigue. The way that I have come to terms with this is that my brain continues to attempt to function at the speed as it did pre accident and is not aware that it can no longer do this due to the damaged path ways.

To deal with the fatigue I shut my eyes for a half hour from 11.30-12 each morning and then I have to actually sleep from approx 2.30-3.30 each afternoon.

Also my days are planned in advance, if they are not I can easily become stressed and the day is totally wasted.

And YES I HATE BEING LIKE THIS!!!!!

Lynlee

[Ravage]

For me, the past 8 years I've had problems remembering things, and the thing that kills me the most, is I have a 15 month old daughter, and I have to ask my sister when she started doing some things, becuase I can't remember.

The memory problems have been the worst of it all, becuase I'm married too, and my husband tried to reminice and I don't remember everything he's talking about, that and the outbursts, when I'm drawing I kinda tune everything out, and when he tries to talk to me, I snap at him.

It's caused a little strain in our marriage, but now that I found this, it gives me some hope that it's not just all in my head...no pun intended. That I can get help.

Ravage,

Have you looked into any therapies to rehab your brain?

[Hockey]

I have a lot of frontal lobe damage so the thing I find hardest to deal with is the personality change. I can become angry over the silliest things. I HATE myself for this and worry what effect it may be having on my young child. I hate the personality symptoms the most because they're the ones that can hurt other people. Fortunately, I'm not physically violent.

I am doing anger management therapy etc..., but the problem is, that organically speaking, I don't have a lot left to work with.

Hockey,

If you are having difficulty with frontal lobe functioning, you may want to look into a subtpe of neurofeedback called HEG biofeedback. Basically, it measures the bloodflow/metabolic activity in the frontal lobes and allows you to train these up. The theory is that increased bloodflow/metabolic activity leads to increases in vascularization (more arteries and veins) which leads to more nerve tissue functioning. They are also speculating that it increases stem cell activiation in that area. The creator of the system has done quite a few studies on brain injuries and has found it to beneficial. Just a thought...