I am 2yrs into my TBI anniversary. I had irritability and anger issues after the accident but now it has turned into episodes of rage. Does anyone else deal with this??

hi kimmy what triggers the rage if you don.t mined me asking

Hello, kimmyann - I had the high-irritability issues a few weeks into my post-collision phase. It was horribly frustrating/aggravating trying to "deal with it all" all on my own/solo, such as insurance adjusters, misinformation from my own auto ins. adjuster and bullying by the at-fault auto ins. adjuster; trying to get medical appts., trying to function 'optimally' to deal/cope with all of it, when in fact I was simply in no way able to function 'optimally'. It subsided once I let go of a lot of those struggles and just settled in for a long period of rest, rest and more rest.

I don't have the rage inssues. However, a good buddy in TBI support group does have that problem, now more than a decade post-severe TBI/spinal cord injury. I just spent timeon the phone letting his mom 'vent' because she is so-o-o worn out from his rage-abuse. They've been to every kind of specialist & are told that it could be "some kind of seizure" that triggers that part of the brain. He's on seizure meds, yet still rages on. He, like me, is in his 50s.

Have you been thoroughly checked by neurologist for possible seizure disorder?

kimmyann,

Like theta said, have you been checked out by a doctor? You need to get your hormones checked by a specialist in women's hormones, not a gyn. You may be able to find a referral to a specialist in your area at www.womensinternational.com

The referall application is on this page: http://www.womensinternational.com/r..._referral.html

Even men get hormone problems from PCS. A malfunctioning pituitary can cause excessive adrenaline. The medical term is adrenal-cortical hyperfunction. I struggle with this and prevent melt downs by learning to avoid my triggers. It is not always possible to avoid triggers.

For women, I can imagine it being like PMS all month long.

While you are getting the blood work done, get your folate, B-12, D, thyroid (T3, T4, TSH), along with all of the sex hormones. Folate, B-12, and D are all important to brain function. You want to be at the top or just above the high end of the normal range. Low in the normal range is not acceptable for an injured brain.

Get a regimen going with B-6, B-12, Niacin, folic acid, Omega 3's etc.

Learn to recognize the start of the cascade of chemical into rage. They take a few moments to get to the outburst point. You should be leaving the environment before they hit the bursting point.

My most common struggle is the confrontational atmosphere at the TSA check point at the airport.

I carry a couple notes in my wallet that I can hand to persons in authority like TSA or police officers. It says,

"Please be patient with me. I suffer from a brain injury that causes me to over-react when confronted with shouting or someone barking orders. I respond by getting loud. Any assistance to help limit excessive auditory stimulation is helpful."

I have once been denied boarding aircraft because I was triggered by the chaos at the security check point. Twice, I was pulled aside and had to face a cop and plead my case. Now, I start with the note at the first TSA security screener and they are very accommodating. They will usually direct me to a quiet way through the line.

Having the note ready to hand someone will empower you to take control of your condition. You may need to come up with your own explanation. I could also benefit from carrying one that reads:

"Pardon my sudden departure from this conversation. I can tell that my injured brain is about to explode. Be patient and I will collect myself and return to finish the conversation."

We must make an effort on our part to prevent these outbursts. By preparing ourselves for these situations, we empower ourselves to avoid them. Believe me. They see your note as a sign of your attempt at self-control, not an excuse for your behavior. It is best when you hand them the paper. They will read it in its entirety if it is in their hand. They will just give it a glance if you try to hold it for them to read.

As I said before, we need to accept these conditions of mental rigidity and outbursts. Otherwise, we put ourselves and others at risk.

btw, I was patted down with a bit too much personal contact in a TSA check point. I over-reacted and got kicked off the flight.

Now, I politely refuse to be patted down. Instead, I request a visual search and wanding behind the privacy screen. We have the right to refuse personal contact. I went behind the privacy screen. I handed my pants and shirt to a cop. He checked my clothes and wanded my underwear. He was satisfied and I was allowed to go on. The TSA agent was furious with my refusal but the cop was very understanding.

You can also request an airline agent escort you through the TSA check point.

My best to you.

Mark: You are obviously from Idaho, so I'm wondering if you are referring to the Boise airport? If so...holy cow...had one of the scariest experiences of my life in that airport. I've flown all over the country and for whatever reason I'm always flagged for security. I'm used to the drill...but those guys had the hair on the back of my neck standing up and I refused to go with them to the screening room. After I stood my ground they just waved me through the line so they obviously knew I wasn't a real threat. Yikes-O

Yes, Boise airport can be a tough one. San Jose airport is where I got bounced.

At BOI, I responded loudly when TSA agents were yelling at me from two directions at the same time. I yelled "What do you want." A BPD cop pulled me aside. he and his sidekick yelled at me until I calmly said. "If you are trying to de-escalate the situation, you might try lowering your voice." The cop looked at me stunned and finally lowered his voice. I got on the plane.