This has been a creeping journey. Mildly concussed, and diagnosed as such, in January 2012. The over the coming months my whole world and my demeanour began to change.
I had all the usual symptoms; lack of sleep, irritability, headaches that would come and go, lack of concentration , inability to articulate, more emotional responses, lack of sex drive etc etc. This all all became most pronounced in the Fall of 2012. It was affecting my relationship with the man of my life etc etc.
I saw my Doctor in January 2013 and she suggested anti-depressants. i balked--hate meds!! I chose a more naturopathic approach and went to see a highly regarded fascial therapist. Went to him for about 3 months and i was showing slow improvement----but that was to be expected,
then in late April I stopped. you know, busy schedule and all!!
The symptoms began to re-appear but the most concerning were the personality changes.
I took it out primarily
on my partner with indifference , irritability , no intimacy etc, to the point where i recently told him weren`t working any longer.

I am stressed, making rash choices and i am worried.
is all of this `common` with PTCS??

You commented about stopping the fascial therapy (myofacial release ? ) due to a busy schedule. Maybe your busy schedule is a trigger for your relapse. Stress is a major cause of the roller coaster of concussion symptoms. The concussed/injured brain is very sensitive to stress and will easily slip into depression from the stress.

Recovery and maintaining it requires a holistic approach. Take good physical care of the body with diet and rest and take good care of the mind with serious stress reduction. It needs to be a lifestyle change to stay healthy.

Let us know how we can help you.

My best to you.

Thank you for that.

I get the stress part--just not that well obviously!!
The week I started to make my rash decisions about my partner-my life-I was just finishing a dramatic body cleanse and had the flu for 2 or 3 days during that period. I was, admittedly, in a weakened state. I guess with that, the mental stress I was just asking for trouble.

My question--in periods like this and with PCS is our emotional and mental guard `down` where we are prone to unreasonable reactions and thinking ?

Just feel so messed up emotionally and physically.

and the topper--maybe-is i am self employed working long hours with no breaks in terms of weekends.

I think I need a recipe for health

thanks for listening

A body cleanse is a very physically stressful event. The toxins that are released must be purged before the brain can take advantage of the cleansed system. I suggest you consider the time of and week after a cleanse as high risk times for making good decisions. It is just like the woman who knows that she should be limiting these decisions because she has a emotionally violent monthly cycle.

As PCS sufferers, we need to set these same boundaries for ourselves, both to protect ourselves and to protect those around us. Many of us know we have to routinely take on tasks and activities that will trigger symptoms. We are wise to plan how to interact with life and others during and after these times.

Thank you Mark.

Sounds like the combination of the body cleanse and the PCS has really affected me.
I must get back to basics here as I continue to stress about my work, kids and relationship.

Thank you

MJC

MJC1864,

I have found an antidepressant called Cymbalta very helpful in reducing symptoms, aiding sleep and reducing migraine. I am now back working, have a full life and good relationships with my wife and children.

It is up to you at the end of the day, but I am really glad my Doctor suggested this medication because it took me 5 months to get back to work again. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Hi MJC1864. In direct response to your question, the answer is a resounding yes, unfortunately. Acutely impaired judgment is a hallmark of brain injury. People make bad decisions, react to inner rage, say and do things that make little sense even to the person doing it.

The following is a bit long. It is notes that I've kept on behavior issues, particularly anger, as this is a problem especially for me...