That is so true. As hard as it is to imagine, when you're struggling with a myriad of symptoms, most of you will recover and get on with your lives. The statistics are on your side.

If, understandably, that seems too cold and abstract, consider this Board. Very few folks are stuck at NT long enough to get past the "member" designation.

As an "elder" and a "senior," respectively, Mark and myself are anomalies on the PCS forum. We are also atypical patients. Mark has endured a number of concussions, starting in childhood. I was involved in a high speed car crash, sustaining an injury that is rarely even survived.

You will do better than us - but I don't hate you for it.

Thanks for the kind words, the kindness and compassion shown on this board in the face of such hardship is truly astounding and such a powerful resource for everyone going through PCS and TBI.

Mark, I know you nor Dr. Gronwald's research have said I'll never recover, and I hope my post didn't suggest I was calling you out or anything like that. I'm just depressed by the notion that I may have to always think about how some activity or some situation might flare up symptoms, and thus limit my life.

I also know that worrying about this, or being depressed about it, isn't helping me get better. I think that thinking about every little thing I'm doing, and whether it's helpful or harmful to recovery is setting me back too. For instance, I've started volunteer coaching at my old HS cross country team since I'm taking a medical leave of absence and want to do something positive other than listening to audiobooks. I've done it for 2 weeks, 3 days a week, and the practices themselves go fine - I feel a bit more like myself, am happy, and don't seem to feel too bad.

But then I get home, and if I maybe feel a little tired or have a slightly worse headache I start to worry that maybe I shouldn't be coaching, and then I get sad thinking about how I can't do so many of the things I love, and worry that this will be this cloud hanging over me for the rest of my life, directing the things I can and can't do. So that's why I find the notion that even after I recover, stress could cause a relapse, so distressing. I just don't want to have to worry about this for the rest of my life.

Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack the thread!

Your biggest problem is anxiety. Getting caught on an increase in head ache or fatigue is unreasonable. If you get a head ache, take a break. If you get tired, take a break. Think of it as a momentary clue to take a break.

If you are going to take on a busy activity, expect you MAY need to take a break afterward.

Get used to the fact that you may have relapses from time to time. As your life goes on, you will begin to learn how much stress you can tolerate. You may be able to tolerate a high level of stress in certain areas and less stress in other ways.

So, the head ache or tiredness is not saying you should not be coaching. It is saying you need to take a break.

Don't forget the stages of grief, it applies to all life changes not only loss of a loved one. We go through these stages with Illness and injuries..

http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-5-st...d-grief/000617