Eowyn,
I also have that problem too... things I used to just brush off, now make me very teary, sometimes even sobbing mess. I never used to cry in front of anyone, even my husband, but since my accident I've cried around so many people over stuff that I used to be able to cope with.

I also have similar issues with anger... its like I can't take much without blowing, where I would've held it in before the accident or at least dealt with it... maturely, I guess is the word?

I can't imagine how the kids in a classroom setting would take advantage of that! Yikes.

It sometimes feels like I'm already working so hard to be where I am, that everything is just simmering right there and any little thing will boil it over either with tears or anger.

Sometimes I feel like I've gone crazy.
Starr

A couple of weeks ago I decided that I needed a new truck even though I have a 2009 diesel one tonne that is perfectly fine. Stopped at a dealer saw one I liked and called the bank and asked to borrow $30000. They said sure! I made an offer of my truck and $25000 which thankfully the dealer turned down! I originally bought my truck one afternoon when I decided I needed one - $61000! Stuff like that happens everyday. I can't tell anymore if my ideas are good or not, which causes lots of stress when I think of it. So generally I don't think about it - yeah that strategy is not so helpful! Lol! Thank God my family made me get a structured settlement after I won my court case or I would have no money to live on. I HATE those commercials "it's my money and I want it now!" should be illegal. I fear I will take them up on it and get "my money" and have it spent immediately. Yep, impulsive. Brings new meaning to "it seemed like a good idea at the time." how to reconcile spontaneity and impulsivity?

Don't get me started on emotionally labilility. I might cry. Lol! My thing is when stuff is going well I forget I have a brain injury. When it is not I don't want to use the brain injury as an excuse. Cycle over and over. Leads to a feeling of futility. And worse. But I can't say I am depressed cause I still do things and am not avoiding fun or life. Hmmmmm

This is a major issue for me as well. Simply put, it has to do with the architecture of the brain. Impulse Control is a so-called Executive Function (executive functions are simply brain functions that control other brain functions). It is mainly resident in the frontal lobes of the cortex. Unfortunately this puts it in a very vulverable position especially when frontal head injuries are involved.

More primitive emotions, a few of which are anger, fear, sex drive, violence and aggression, are housed in more primitive areas of the brain toward the middle. Again unfortunately, this is in a more protected area.

When Impulse Control is damaged, the more primitive emotions are allowed to run unchecked and under-regulated. Behavioral mainfestations can range anywhere from irritability to serial killing (although a more complex profile is necessary for the latter).

In my opinion this is one of the most understudied aspects of brain injury. I am interested in waging a personal campaign for greater awareness in this area.

I have a combination of things. I work half days and get irritated more quickly in the classroom now. The students are not louder than normal, but they are very loud in my head.

On the other hand, I do not worry about any "details." For example, I agreed to host at BBQ for 25 people at my house (impulsive?) even though I had to work that day and would not get home until 1 hour before the event. I also would not get my daily nap in. Then I did not care what happened! Nothing was ready and I just let my friends figure out were the plates, napkins etc were. The children went swimming and were running all over the house, leaving wet towels everywhere. My husband was out BBQing. I just sat at the table and watched the chaos. Not like me.