Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS).


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Old 07-27-2014, 12:10 PM #1
willgardner willgardner is offline
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Default Emotional Support Network (How to deal with frustration, etc)

I feel like no one gets this (other than the people from this forum). No one wants to get it, but even if people did, would that make a difference? This is so frustrating, exhausting and depressing.

What kind of emotional support(friends/fam) do you have? who can you talk to about this? How do you release frustration/anger, etc?

EDIT: I will elaborate on this. I had to move back with my folks due to the injuries. Mother is not very understanding of the situation(or in denial) and while I get a shelter and food I get no emotional support. Also, in my parents' house, I have a sister with severe adult ADHD (who just does not get that I am injured, and forgets to be considerate). Mother is even in denial about my sister's severe adult ADHD, so I can't really ask much for myself, as much as it is frustrating. To complicate things, I do not know anyone in this town/city. I small-talk with neighbors, but it would be nice to spend time with a non-family member once in a while. I am a social person, so this isolation is very hard on me. I am increasingly getting frustrated/disappointed with my mother, who is the only person I really have right now. It looks like I am going to be here for a while and I seriously fear for my mental health and I would appreciate your input on how to get out of this rut, in light of my PCS condition (cannot drive/go to loud places, restaurants/coffee shops). I basically eat, sleep, go on the computer, go for short walks. I feel like a prisoner...

Last edited by willgardner; 07-27-2014 at 03:40 PM.
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Old 07-27-2014, 07:20 PM #2
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It is a very lonely injury. I hope that you will soon be able to spread your wings and have small interactions with people. I try to take pleasure in small things. I think that this healing time can also represent a period of growth as you discover how strong you really are.

Dig deep for that strength.
Hang in there!
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What happened: Legs pulled forward by a parent's hockey stick while resting at the side of the rink at a family skate....sent me straight back. I hit the back of my head (with helmet) on the ice, bounced a few times, unconscious for a few minutes. September 11, 2011. Off work since then…I work part-time at home when I can. It has been hell but slowly feeling better (when I am alone☺).

Current symptoms: Vision problems (but 20/20 in each eye alone!) – convergence insufficiency – horizontal and vertical (heterophoria), problems with tracking and saccades, peripheral vision problems, eyes see different colour tints; tinnitus 24/7 both ears; hyperacusis (noise filter gone!), labyrinthian (inner ear) concussion, vestibular dysfunction (dizzy, bedspins, need to look down when walking); partial loss of sense of smell; electric shocks through head when doing too much; headaches; emotional lability; memory blanks; difficulty concentrating. I still can’t go into busy, noisy places. Fatigue. Executive functioning was affected – multi-tasking, planning, motivation. Slight aphasia. Shooting pain up neck and limited mobility at neck. Otherwise lucky!

Current treatments: Vestibular therapy, Vision therapy, amantadine (100 mg a day), acupuncture and physiotherapy for neck, slow return to exercise, magnesium, resveratrol, omega 3 fish oils, vitamins D, B and multi. Optimism and perserverance.
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Old 07-27-2014, 07:51 PM #3
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I'm bro I just saw this post and it looks like you posted it a while ago. Seriously you and hockey and others are the only thing that keeps me going. I know that is small consolation with what you have but if you wanted my number you can call me if you want my email you can have it if u want you messaged me you can at any time day or night I am there for you. You are the best friend I have right now loland don't forget i lol when I'm nervous and telling the truth
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Old 07-27-2014, 08:46 PM #4
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I hear you...I have a very small family, when I say how I'm feeling I just basically get blank stares and no comments, they don't understand this.

I feel as though I will never be the same again, try not to think like that very often and I don't do a whole lot either, I take my dog out, go to Dr's and therapy appts, and time is going by...was suicidal last summer.

I come on here and know I'm understood, the sleeping or rather lack of sleep is killing me, a walking zombie, internal tremors are getting worse, last night they started in my legs and I tossed and turned for most of the night, I just wanted to cry and felt so alone.

I want you to know I am here for you too, I get it, I suppose we just keep on fighting get as well as we can and go from there, good days and bad days...my brain feels like it's literally broken sometimes.

Hang in there, you are not alone
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Old 07-27-2014, 11:22 PM #5
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I'm with you guys. I don't know how much more I can handle.

All I have here is my husband and my 2 kids (11 and 9 years old). My husband... He loves me. He truly and honestly believes that he supports me. In his own way. For those of you, who don't know - he is a medical professional (PA) working in one of the urgent care clinics and you all know how little training they have when it comes to our injury. He just doesn't get it. You know - the worst patients are doctors. I can ensure you - the worst caregivers are also doctors (or PAs in my case).

What make the situation worse - he really thinks he is helping me and supporting me by saying "it's all in your head", "depression", "taking vitamins is not gonna help you". Don't get me wrong - he is a good man, he is always there for me when I need him. He just simply doesn't get this injury. He thinks that I should trust his opinion (since he a professional here of course) and not trust what I have read online or anywhere else.

I'm sorry this is too long, but I just feel that I need to vent badly. We had a nasty fight yesterday. I spent the whole evening crying, couldn't join our online meeting. We had a fight today over something that's not gonna happen for the next 4 years (I know this one is on me). I feel so lonely and isolated. I have nobody to talk to. No friends, no family. I barely get out of the house. Life sucks.
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2002 - hit my head on a washer door while doing laundry. Recovered in 24 hours (was 7 months pregnant at that time)
2005 (maybe 2006) - kitchen cabinet (it took me ~ 1 week to recover)
2009 - refrigerator shelf, recovered in 1 month
summer, 2011 - metal rail, the life-changing concussion. Black out for ~10 minutes, spent ~2weeks in bed (wasn't able to even use a bathroom by myself). Made a complete recovery in 2 months.
October, 2011 - washer door again. Recovered in 1 months.
March, 2012 - kitchen cabinet again. Suicidal depression. Was diagnosed with OCD. Severe anxiety. Was completely recovered in 4 months, celexa is a magical pill.

After that I managed to go almost 1.5 years without a concussion! Was at a completely symptom-free stage, started volunteering at my kids' school again. I was living a happy life. Then,

August, 2013 - fell down the stairs, broke my ankle badly (my surgeon said that he literally has never seen anything that bad ever before and he's been practicing for more than 20 years).
September, 2013 - my son was hugging me and we bumped into each other. Result - complete return of all of my symptoms., no improvement with time. Severe depression again.

7/7/2014 - hit my self on a metal shelf again while trying to clean.


I'm not clumsy. It's just the floor hates me, the tables and chairs are bullies and the wall gets in the way.
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Old 07-27-2014, 11:34 PM #6
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
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Marina,

Just a thought. You could ask him to do something before he tries to give you medical advice or opinion. Ask him to watch the whole YouTube 'You Look Great' series at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Xso...ature=youtu.be

It will enhance his knowledge as a PA plus hopefully give him a reason to be more supportive.

My best to you.
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Old 07-27-2014, 11:54 PM #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho View Post
Marina,

Just a thought. You could ask him to do something before he tries to give you medical advice or opinion. Ask him to watch the whole YouTube 'You Look Great' series at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Xso...ature=youtu.be

It will enhance his knowledge as a PA plus hopefully give him a reason to be more supportive.

My best to you.
Thank you, Mark! I'll try to get him to watch the series. He is very skeptical of everything that's posted online though
__________________
2002 - hit my head on a washer door while doing laundry. Recovered in 24 hours (was 7 months pregnant at that time)
2005 (maybe 2006) - kitchen cabinet (it took me ~ 1 week to recover)
2009 - refrigerator shelf, recovered in 1 month
summer, 2011 - metal rail, the life-changing concussion. Black out for ~10 minutes, spent ~2weeks in bed (wasn't able to even use a bathroom by myself). Made a complete recovery in 2 months.
October, 2011 - washer door again. Recovered in 1 months.
March, 2012 - kitchen cabinet again. Suicidal depression. Was diagnosed with OCD. Severe anxiety. Was completely recovered in 4 months, celexa is a magical pill.

After that I managed to go almost 1.5 years without a concussion! Was at a completely symptom-free stage, started volunteering at my kids' school again. I was living a happy life. Then,

August, 2013 - fell down the stairs, broke my ankle badly (my surgeon said that he literally has never seen anything that bad ever before and he's been practicing for more than 20 years).
September, 2013 - my son was hugging me and we bumped into each other. Result - complete return of all of my symptoms., no improvement with time. Severe depression again.

7/7/2014 - hit my self on a metal shelf again while trying to clean.


I'm not clumsy. It's just the floor hates me, the tables and chairs are bullies and the wall gets in the way.
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Old 07-28-2014, 12:01 AM #8
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why would all of us give up our lives the way they were for no reason? i am guilty of denying in the past too. i had a friend who had depression and went to the hospital and i said he was a baby. until depression hit me and no one believed. now it's the same thing with the head injury stuff. i will always give people the benefit of the doubt if they say they are sick from something.
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Old 07-28-2014, 03:00 AM #9
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
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Marina,

The YouTube series is done by a man who suffered a mild concussion but needed years to get back to his life. He does an excellent job of chronicling his experience. It is not a simple online bit of info. It is well presented.
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Old 07-28-2014, 03:58 AM #10
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Thumbs up i hear you loud and clear

Yep, nobody really gets it in my family either. It is totally messed up. I moved back in with my elderly mother yesterday, because I can't be alone due to anxiety about this. Needing ativan to sleep, probably won't be able to return to my teaching job in August. Dealing with huge sense of grief/loss/fear.

Deciding to become a warrior for my own health. Advocate for myself (try). came across a great website that focuses on nutrition and healing pcs-- don't have the link at the minute but try googling "lucy" and "concussion." She has a lot of helpful tips about things to eat-- avocados, blueberries, and i am trying her suggestion of cell salts (never heard of them before, but i am desperate).

good luck, keep in touch.
julia
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