Lui,

I did not start to see much recovery until I dropped out of everything I could, and just rested. I get the idea from your posts that whenever you think about having to give something up you think you shouldn't have to because it isn't fair. It sounded like you thought this about giving up basketball, and now it sounds like you are thinking this about other activities.

I understand this, and I felt the same way. But one of the most important lessons to learn in recovery from PCS is that what is happening in your brain has nothing to do with what is 'fair'. If your brain needs you to rest, and just sit around being very bored all the time, then this is what you need to do.

It is boring, and it is not fair that you should have to be so bored. But your recovery has nothing to do with what is fair, it's just about you, your brain and the healing process.

I dropped out of almost everything, and it wasn't fair that I had to do this, but I needed it to recover. Even though I have now recovered, I will never again drink alcohol (which is a big part of social life in England) and I will never again play soccer, which was one of my favourite things to do. It is not 'fair' that I have to give up these things, it is simply a biological fact that I have to give them up if I want to stay healthy.

Most people don't rest properly at the beginning, because we don't know what is happening. But most people still recover. I did a lot of things that I shouldn't have done soon after my injury, and I have still recovered. So in my experience, you should not be anxious about this

Nope, it's not fair. I'm in my last year of college and will never go out drinking. It's awkward to refuse wine at dinner parties when I'm 21, healthy, etc. I had to give up rugby as well. I was early in my career and got a major concussion, and yet my friend has played professionally and recreationally for 25+ years with only one minor concussion (better by the end of the week).

It sucks. Not to gloat, but I was one of the best players on the team. I was hoping to play well into my adulthood and perhaps make a major team.

And while rugby was important, I'm realizing now that being able to do basic things, like read, run, enjoy nature, and talk with friends is infinitely more important than rugby. I'll go back and play touch so I can still enjoy the game. I'll keep watching the pros (and have been throughout the recovery).

I would give up basketball for now, but if you discipline yourself as Mark said (no headers), I'm sure you could get back to soccer at some point. I want to play sports again as well, and this is probably the hardest part of my recovery. I was extremely active, hoping to go to personal trainer school part time. Now I just need to rest.

I am just wondering if I am allowed to meet up with friends and stuff if I would really rest for a week. It's making me really dizzy when I spent time with them and it's harder to communicate. I hate it!

Lui, during my first few weeks I still held conversations with my housemates and friends, but I kept it light, and to one person at a time. I let them know that I would occasionally have to step out. As my doc put it, shooting the ***** is fine, but no deep conversations for a while.

Thanks for answering!
Alright, I will try. It's just so hard. Just chnaged host familiy and have to integerate somehow!

How old are you. I am confident we will make a full recovery there may just be some lifestlye changes! How are your symptoms atm

Peter, if you think you will make a complete recovery, why would you need to make some lifestyle changes? The truth is: You will likely make a complete recovery in the obvious things. But, when you are under stress, you will realize how much you have not recovered 100%.

Lui, The important part of socializing is to try to avoid situations where you will be exposed to multiple voices at the same time. The brain will try to listen to all of the voices at the same time. This will cause it to become overwhelmed and crash. Standing off in a corner with just a single person talking can be best.

Hope you figure this out so you can avoid the crashes.

My best to you.

Thank you for all the advise! I have a new problem, my parents in Germany do not believe me They think I am maing all this stuff up. Of course they were very worried about me when the neurologist tolf them about brain bleeding, which couöd probabl the problem in my case. But they found nothing and since then my parents acting like everything is normal. The only peopl beliving me are my host parents, the school nures and my doctors.

If your parents don't believe you, stop telling them about your struggles. They can not help anyway. Tell them you are doing OK. When you get home, they can experience the real you. Until them, be careful and try to live a moderated life. If you want to spend time with friends, spend time with just one speaking at a time. If they start to speak over each other, walk away to a quiet area.

You are smart enough to notice the patterns of stimulation versus how you feel. Take your time as you try to learn this and you will do fine.

My best to you.