[DazedandConfused86]

If you're aware of your stutters/stammers/word-finding difficulties/etc. when speaking -- is it more likely that anxiety is causing it, rather than a neurological (i.e. brain injury) problem?

I've been avoiding this site (and other medical forums) because... cyberchondria and all. So far, so good - I think I'm coming up on about two weeks since I vowed to stop consulting Dr. Google.

But lately, I've been stuttering, tripping over my words, and struggling to think of the right things to say - whether it's online or offline. I've always had social anxiety to some degree, but... I can't help but wonder if this is "normal" for me or not?

I'm still experiencing problems with daytime sleepiness and (thankfully mild) TMJD pain. Headaches are few and far between, which is probably a good sign! However, I tend to (accidentally) bump my head on various hard surfaces- the car door, the top bunk of a bunk bed, the underside of a table, things like that.

It's never hard enough to make me dizzy, nauseous, or get a serious headache. But.. is it still hurting my brain? I keep thinking back to that time I knocked my head against the wall, back in May - and could I still be recovering from that? I just don't know. I'd love to let this all go, but.. I'm not feeling 100%.

What are your thoughts on speech problems - and is there a difference between those caused by anxiety, and those by brain trauma?

[Mark in Idaho]

I wish I could reply but I cannot read a post with bold formatting between non-bold text. I tried multiple times but I just overload visually.

Does anybody else have this struggle ?

[donniedarko]

Originally Posted by DazedandConfused86

If you're aware of your stutters/stammers/word-finding difficulties/etc. when speaking -- is it more likely that anxiety is causing it, rather than a neurological (i.e. brain injury) problem?

I've been avoiding this site (and other medical forums) because... cyberchondria and all. So far, so good - I think I'm coming up on about two weeks since I vowed to stop consulting Dr. Google.

But lately, I've been stuttering, tripping over my words, and struggling to think of the right things to say - whether it's online or offline. I've always had social anxiety to some degree, but... I can't help but wonder if this is "normal" for me or not?

I'm still experiencing problems with daytime sleepiness and (thankfully mild) TMJD pain. Headaches are few and far between, which is probably a good sign! However, I tend to (accidentally) bump my head on various hard surfaces- the car door, the top bunk of a bunk bed, the underside of a table, things like that.

It's never hard enough to make me dizzy, nauseous, or get a serious headache. But.. is it still hurting my brain? I keep thinking back to that time I knocked my head against the wall, back in May - and could I still be recovering from that? I just don't know. I'd love to let this all go, but.. I'm not feeling 100%.
What are your thoughts on speech problems - and is there a difference between those caused by anxiety, and those by brain trauma?

Mark,

I never experienced something like that. Quoted the post and removed the bold tags for you.

Dazed,

Cybercondriac is a great term, I definitely am part of that group. If your word finding issues are really bothering you you might wanna go see a speech therapist. Not sure if they can distinguish between causes of speech problems, though; they may not be able to tell you why you have these issues but they might be able to help with the issues themselves.

If your injury was in May 2015, then you are very early into your recovery. I would guess most of the things that bother you right now will fade away over time.

[packersrule]

I went to speech therapist and found it very helpful.

I never had issues with speech before the accident. I also struggled with finding the right word (I still have issues at night).

I tried to return to work and hold department meeting. It would turn into a game of guess the word he is trying to think of. I still have issues with thinking one word but saying a different word.

I have had many concussions (more then 20). I recovered full from all except this last one.

The speech issues have gotten better and I make it most day without issues. I would guess you will see your speech improve

The main strategies I was taught:
1. slow down
2. Substitute a word if you can't think of the first word
3. Use your hands (strange but it helps)
4. Think out the full thought before you speak
5. Be kind to yourself - This will pass

[Mark in Idaho]

DazedandConfused,

You are asking about two possibly three very different things.

Word finding is common with PCS. It often gets worse with stress. It is more tied to verbal memory/processing.

Stuttering is usually a different dysfunctional process in the brain. Stammering is not the same from a technical perspective although some try to use the terms interchangeably.

As packers says, slow down, and think about what you want to say before you speak. I find that when I have word finding problems, if I look around the room at different objects, I can break through the impasse. Trying to force the word out with the sentence tends to just jamb me up harder.

As mentioned, a speech therapist may shed some light on your stuttering or stammering. It will help to understand the difference between a stutter and a nervous stammer when you are trying to find words. It may help you be less anxious.

Please do not get caught up with the idea that your little bumps are concussions. You have to impact enough to manifest symptoms at the time of the impact for it to be a concussion. The bumps are just annoyances.

[Hockey]

I have wrestled with speech issues (aphasia, apraxia, stuttering) since my TBI. Therapy really helped. The pathologist spent a lot of time working on my attention span and concentration. If I can focus, my speech improves. So, I'd say, get yourself accessed by a professional.

To be honest, I will never understand why people wonder if their deficits are a product of PCS or anxiety. Anxiety is a symptom of PCS. When you try and separate them, it's like saying, incorrectly, that some deficits aren't legitimate. I believe it's more accurate to remember that, we have anxiety because we have PCS, not PCS because we have anxiety.

Treating anxiety as a symptom, rather than a cause of PCS can help free patients from misplaced guilt and allow them to confront it without shame. TBI patients are no more at fault for their anxiety than they are for difficulties with convergence, tinnitus, lose of sense of smell, etc..., etc...,

[chasann]

For me slowing my speech down helped a lot, sort of gave my brain tIme to catch up with what was coming out of my mouth. Substituting 'whatever' for many words missing, unable to be pronounced, or misplaced (say flooding for swimming ) became common phrase and 12 months post accident it can still sometimes happen. Miming has improved . . .

Whispering or singing can sometimes be easier than speaking; speech therapist saying this is not uncommon for stroke/brain injured folk.

Then there is fatigue - anything goes. Stress - even I wonder at the rearrangements!

Often time is a healer, best of.