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Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS). |
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08-15-2012, 01:42 PM | #1 | ||
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It has been 6 months since I was rear ended and I am doing better now than I was , I still have migraine headaches, but my neurologist has been treating them and I think I have been improving. My dizzy spells are not quite as frequent although I still have them. I find I cant exert myself physically like I used to , I have to pace my self. The one thing I find I am having a great deal of anxiety with is driving. In fact since my accident I have not hardly drove a car at all. Primarily because of the topomax, but also because my vertigo. The antivert has helped a lot with the dizzy spells. But I find I get a real case of nerves when I have to drive now , I always considered myself to be a good driver but now the idea of getting behind the steering wheel really causes me to have serious anxiety. I have not really discussed this with my doctor. Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks so much. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Theta Z (10-07-2012) |
08-15-2012, 02:34 PM | #2 | ||
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I have some anxiety when I drive, not as much as you describe. I realized quickly my response to stimuli threw everything off and adjusted my driving.
People probably get impatient but I feel better to take a little extra time than risk an accident.
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49, Male Married, PCS since June 2012, headaches, Back pain, neck pain, attention deficit, concentration deficit, processing speed deficit, verbal memory deficit, PTSD, fatigue, tinutitus, tremors. To see the divine in the moment. |
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08-15-2012, 03:49 PM | #3 | |||
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"the idea of getting behind the steering wheel really causes me to have serious anxiety"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Confused IT Guy: I can well relate. I also was rear-ended ... 3+ years ago ... and I find that my anxiety/PTSD re: driving --- as well as even riding in a car --- is still something major that I struggle with daily. The prospect of either driving or riding at high-speeds, e.g. over 35 mph, on busy 4-lane highways, and on the interstate roadways, is just not something that I can feel comfortable doing. Particularly, given the exponential growth/proliferation of the use of Smart Phones in these past 3 years!! Aiyeeah! What a setup for disaster. (The at-fault driver, who rear-ended me, was talking on his Blue Tooth cellular phone at the time! Imagine all these people nowadays talking on face-to-face videophones while driving!! Arrghhh!)
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_____________________________ . 50s Babyboomer; 2008 high-impact rear-ended/totalled-MVC, closed-head injury->pcs ... "Still dealing with it." 1993, Fell on black ice; first closed-head injury; life-altering. // 2014 Now dealing with Peripheral Neuropathy, tremors, shakiness, vestibular disorder, akithesia, anhedonia, yada yada, likely thanks to rx meds // 2014: uprooted to the cold wet gray NW coast, trying to find a way back home ... where it's blue sky and warm! . __________________________________________________ _________ Each and every day I am better and better. I affirm and give thanks that it is so. // 2014-This was still true for me last year, I truly felt this a year ago. Unfortunately it holds no meaning for me now. Odd, it was the Theta mantra for years. Change change change. |
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08-15-2012, 04:14 PM | #4 | ||
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Quote:
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Theta Z (10-07-2012) |
08-15-2012, 04:45 PM | #5 | ||
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Legendary
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IT,
Do you have any areas where you can drive with light traffic loads? Getting back into the discipline with minimal traffic can be a way to ease back. Do you have a rehab driving clinic in your area? Driving rehab therapists can be helpful. I do not drive just any day. I have to pick my good days. I also consider the traffic and other conditions. I try to avoid commute times. If you can, try going to your job earlier that the commute rush. Either way, it is important to understand when your focus is good and bad. MY biggest concern is the welfare of others. I learned that I do better is a car with lots of feed back to the driver. I can not drive my wife's car. I lose track of the fact that I am driving. I am too easily distracted. The power steering gave out and I was able to drive it home 120 miles because it had steering feedback. She could not handle the manual steering. It worked fine for me. I needed the effort. I have a 4x4 Isuzu Rodeo that keeps my focus on driving. I have the automatic transmission disconnected so I have to shift it by hand. Modern electronic shift automatic transmissions have a disconnect that allows them to be manually shifted. It is the 'get home' mode. It can be some tough decisions. I went for two years without driving at all. I even sold my car. Now, I drive only a few thousand miles a year. Be safe. My best to you all.
__________________
Mark in Idaho "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Theta Z (10-08-2012) |
08-16-2012, 10:29 AM | #6 | |||
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Even without PCS, I wouldn't drive. Too expensive to have a car, and a likelihood of being wiped out in a random accident.
Not a matter of being scared, but cautious and realistic. I've done public transit for my entire life. Some people might be in isolated areas, which would make it tough, though... |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Theta Z (10-08-2012) |
10-07-2012, 09:28 PM | #7 | |||
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I would certainly opt to use it.
The Bay Area is certainly excellent in that. So it was also where I lived most of my life, my 'former life'. I sure miss being able to hop on a shuttle and just go. _______________________________________________ Quote:
__________________
_____________________________ . 50s Babyboomer; 2008 high-impact rear-ended/totalled-MVC, closed-head injury->pcs ... "Still dealing with it." 1993, Fell on black ice; first closed-head injury; life-altering. // 2014 Now dealing with Peripheral Neuropathy, tremors, shakiness, vestibular disorder, akithesia, anhedonia, yada yada, likely thanks to rx meds // 2014: uprooted to the cold wet gray NW coast, trying to find a way back home ... where it's blue sky and warm! . __________________________________________________ _________ Each and every day I am better and better. I affirm and give thanks that it is so. // 2014-This was still true for me last year, I truly felt this a year ago. Unfortunately it holds no meaning for me now. Odd, it was the Theta mantra for years. Change change change. |
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10-08-2012, 05:00 AM | #8 | ||
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IT Guy I am much the same.
In my IT consultancy role I used to travel 40,000 miles and as a sideline I used to teach advanced road skill to the public and security forces. These days I drive very little and prefer to have another driver in the passenger seat with me. Recognising and reacting to hazards is now a problem and I need the passenger to keep an eye on me - it is almost like being a learner driver again
__________________
January 2012 tripped over a power cable and life has changed - memory, mood, balance and puzzled. Now how do I fix it ? |
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10-08-2012, 06:06 AM | #9 | ||
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Hi IT Guy
My advice for what it's worth is: 1 - only drive if you are safe to, consider others first 2 - get out there if you can as it will really help you to regain your confidence and indepence - i find the following helped me: a) start with a small drive, at a quiet time on roads you know, to somewhere you know. tell someone you are doing it, someone that can come and get you should you feel you can go no further. or perhaps have them in a car behind you so you feel as secure as possible? b) start then building it up, but taking note of how you cope - if a 20 minute drive is too much, then limit it to 15 until you can do better c) avoid rush hour d) avoid motorways - I am driving now but still get very freaked out and fatigued on motorways, to the point I feel i have to pull over onto the hard shoulder and stop - so now I don't do that anymore 3 - small steps in the right direction, and a give yourself a reward each time you've moved towards your goal 4 - realise there will be set backs, you may be perfectly ok driving one day, but another it may be too much Good luck |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Theta Z (10-08-2012) |
10-08-2012, 07:53 AM | #10 | |||
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Since the accident I haven't driven. I'm terrified of driving and have nightmares about losing control of the car, brakes failing, somebody crashing into me etc. The most recent one was a couple of nights ago - I dreamed the brakes failed and I flew off a cliff.
I don't even like getting into a car with somebody. At every junction/roundabout I panic and think somebody hasn't seen us or the driver hasn't seen them. It's just miserable. Though it must be especially difficult in America because everything is so far apart compared to the UK. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Theta Z (10-08-2012) |
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