I came across this article but am still somewhat confused. Its like what came first the chicken or the egg. Is a brain injury the cause of depression in certain circumstances or the result of the brain injury the reason you become depressed?

Do the new frustrations and challenges you now experience trigger hidden or dormant psychological issues or is it chemical alterations in the brain based on the new stressors\challenges that cause it??? Any thoughts? The article is an interesting read.

I identify with all the markers link will download pdf.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...BysZjE4nTwrwWQ

Interesting within the article it states :

"Other common symptoms of depression include changes in appetite, having difficulty getting a good night's sleep, moving the body at a much slower pace, and not being able to remember things or concentrate as easily as before"

I don't feel depressed but have those symptoms - so am I depressed or delusional

Right on. I too feel that way but I don’t feel depressed. Maybe I just don’t know what depression is really like. That is why; hopefully others will add more input\experience. I see a lot of posts lately here in the forum that all sound more like depression \ psychological issues but most all are experiencing this post mtbi.

I think it hinders the progress of educating the medical profession but everything in life pertaining to most medical "ailments" mimic depression like symptoms. I think that is why Neurologist also prescribe low dose depression drugs almost immediately.

If you took the parents of a young family, leaving a theme park after a long day, and put them in front of a psychiatrist. Without saying what they had been doing all day, the psychiatrist would probably diagnose them with depression.

The problem is that there are too many inexperienced and untrained doctors, psychiatrists and psychologists confusing an over stimulated and fatigued brain as a psychological disorder. This is then wrongly treated with brain dumbing medications that make the symptoms worse.

I want to get the biggest thickest book on neurology i can find, and smack a few so called professionals around the head with it!. And only then, will they understand what a brain injury is all about.

Rant over

There are too many ways depression manifests to say that a person with PCS either does or does not suffer from depression. Depression does not always included the negative ideations that include suicide, etc. There are overlaps between PCS and depression that also make a diagnosis difficult.

The important fact is that depression is very common within the PCS community so the injured, family and friends need to b e informed and ready to seek professional help.

jinga, I think both of your ideas are correct. The PCS can cause the issues that lead to depression and can simply cause the brain to succumb to depression due to its malfunctions.

A simple way to define the causes of depression is this: It is the result of the brain being over-worked or over-stimulated to a point where it fatigues and becomes overwhelmed with the toxins left by such efforts. It is know that too much pleasurable stimulation can lead to depression just like you can wear out your muscles doing pleasurable efforts and doing uncomfortable efforts.

The concussed brain has less tolerance for these stressors.

Mark that’s what I am thinking too, Yesterday was another example of being hung up on the same thing all day and couldn’t let it go and I got completely wiped out. Today seems better in that regard. I want to share some of this with my one doc but think maybe "they" will think I am "cyberchondriating” all I can say is I was DX with PCS long before I discovered this forum. I just really want to know what I am dealing with and do all I can do to help myself.

So would you say that although you don't feel depressed i.e. in an ok mood. that mild anti depressants may assist with sleep, appetite, memory etc.

There is no evidence that any antidepressant will help with memory. I have never heard of anti-depressants being prescribed to help with appetite. Amitriptyline has been used to help with insomnia and head aches in doses not considered therapeutic for depression.

Have you been prescribed antidepressant for memory and appetite?

I haven't see any Neuro specialists at all. My Family Doctor is waiting on advice from a Neurologist before prescribing anything. When I chased up the Neuro clinic the current waiting list is around 9 months - apparently I haven't even made the list yet. My expectation is that I will get an assessment in August 2013.

In the meantime I may be able to press my doctor to give me something. As our most esteemed expert what you recommend ?

Unless you are having head aches and insomnia, I suggest you stay free of medication.

What symptoms do you hope to treat?