[Jeffmw]

Hey everyone I was hoping someone could help me out. I had a mild case of pcs only symptom I had trouble with was memory loss. My days are spent being stressed to the max over legal issues and other issues. But I find if I have something to look forward to life is good I am just chilled out no problems. The other thing that helps is I train muay thai as soon as I am there no problem. I tend to think its more stress or probably a stress disorder that's causing my memory loss to reoccur I've had ptsd in the past and last winter I was stressed to the point if I ate I just threw up. My un expert opinion is that its stress that's causing me to forget the odd thing like how we got onto a certain topic of conversation. I was hoping someone could give me some advice on this and just how to chill out and de stress. Thanks a lot!!

[Mark in Idaho]

Stress is a big culprit for many symptoms. Speaking i a group where multiple voices are competing to be heard is very stressful.

My question is : If you have PCS, why are you involved in a contact combat sport ? Even the non-head contact sparing blows are very stressful to your brain.

[Jeffmw]

Thanks for your input I appreciate it!! Since I've had pcs I haven't sparred just padwork and fitness. I've had concussion doctors as well as my family doctor clear me to spar again but I've been playing it cool and haven't sparred yet. How I got my concussion is kind of a stupid story I cut myself saw blood passed out and hit my head. But even after that I did tests on the luminosity website as well as other concussion tests they said my results were that of a normal uninjured person and some were even a bit higher on luminosity tests I scored between 95% and 98% on all the exercises did. After that my doctor said I think you just need to do everything you can to reduce your stress level because you appear to be healthy. I know my stress level is unhealthy and I am doing what I can to get the stressful situations out of my life. I think once I reduce my stress I'll be a lot better off. But as far as muay thai I do it because it relieves stress for me but since I hit my head I played it safe and only trained for fitness no sparring.

[Lightrail11]

Hi Jeff, welcome to NT.

I found the following helpful for relaxation and dealing with anxiety:

Yoga. Look for a studio that integrates the mindfulness breathing and meditative components along with the asanas (postures). A slower paced class would be more relaxing than the Vinyasa (flow) classes.

Mindfulness meditation. Lots of good books are available (Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn is a good starter book). I also found a continuing education class at a local community college.

Massage therapy.

I agree with Mark, contact martial arts such as Muay Thai put you at risk for further injury. Consider light or non-contact forms such as t’ai chi if you find martial arts a positive stress reliever.

[Jeffmw]

Thanks for your advice I appreciate it!! I've read a couple self improvment books they seemed to help but I'll check the one you recommended out. My stress isn't brought on by my injury I don't have a problem handling it actually a lot of ppl say there surprised at how cool I am. But just some background info on what I am/have been dealing with. My relatives are suing me,I got jumped on my way home from work I didn't get hurt but I beat the attacker up pretty badly, I smashed up my grandmas car the day before it was supposed to be delivered to the buyer, I had some routine bloodwork done it came back outta wack there was a possibility that it could be a blood cancer, my truck got stolen,and I broke up with my gf, that all happened with in 2 and a half weeks my doctor told me its a strong possibility that you have a case af post traumatic stress disorder.

[Lightrail11]

Sounds like you have a lot to deal with. If you have health insurance consider asking your PCP for a referral to a therapist that specializes in PTSD and other stress related disorders. I posted a link to an article on PTSD linked to TBI. Best to you.

http://www.brainline.org/landing_pag...ries/ptsd.html

[Jeffmw]

Thanks a lot I am just gonna check that article out now. The thing is I don't forget things very often. The best example I can give is I'll be talking to someone my mind is sub conciously going 100mph and I am thinking of a lot of different things and I'll forget how we got onto whatever subject we're talking about. Or I'll park somewhere and walk into a store and wonder for a second if I locked my truck usually I remember I did. Even when I had pcs I would be at work and do a little job then a while later I'd be like oh did I get that done? But at that time I was stressed pretty badly. So in my un expert opinion I think a lot of what I was going through was stress related. But thanks again for your advice I appreciate it!

[Mark in Idaho]

Jeffmw,

It sounds like you need to slow down and focus on doing one thing at a time. Before PCS, multitasking and such came easy and was a habit. In reality, multitasking is a stressor to the brain. It is not good for brain health. Try to learn to NOT multitask.

Your minor memory struggles are nothing in the life of many with PCS. Reacting to them may indicate an anxiety issue.

Regarding PTSD, I would ssuggest you have a plain old load of stress. I have observed that when multiple calamities come in a short period of time, there is often a common cause. Slowing down to look at personal behaviors that may have led to or contributed to the car crash, break up, etc., can help us understand where we need to slow down and try to focus on one thing at a time. You sound like a Type A personality. This can lead to this roller coaster life, especially after a concussion and with continued stress to the concussion with your Muay Thai.

[Jeffmw]

After I hit my head I was more forgetful then usual I do attribute some of that to pcs but I wasn't sure how much of it was pcs. Mainly because I don't no the severity of memory loss due to pcs. As a young kid I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder as dumb as this may sound I'd see a freckle on my arm that ididnt notice before and automaticaly it was skin cancer. But I got over that. One of my biggest problems is I overthink every little thing both doctors that I've seen said that is the reason that any symptoms I may have had are lingering. But if I am going on a trip or something just chilled out and driving I have no problems but the second I forget something 1st thing I do is atribute it to pcs. With muay thai I haven't sparred in probably a year I am just doing it for fitness right now I find it theraputical because when I am there that's all I am thinking about training working on coordination and what not