[Concussed-Jellybean]

Hi I'm new here, so sorry if I'm doing this wrong somehow!

I had got a concussion over a year ago (first day of my senior year of college). It sucked but I managed to keep doing school even though I was pretty solidly messed up for a couple months. I was doing okay by the end of the school year (although going without food or sleep or working with my thesis partner on our project for too long would bring some of the symptoms back). I felt like I was pretty much all better.

But since then I've been re-concussed a number of times (all very light bumps on the head that none the less made me feel very badly) and I've been having a harder time taking care of myself (resting my brain when stuff starts to feel bad) now that I'm out of the structure of the school environment. Like I had a goal and a routine there: rest all day so I could go to class, rest, eat, do homework with lots of rest breaks.

I get migraines too so I already have this built in bad habit of ignoring head pain if I'm doing something I enjoy (like reading or watching tv).

Anyway, I had an internship after school, which just ended, and now I have some time between things to really rest and try to heal my stupid brain, but I'm having a hard time making myself actually DO IT. Does anyone have any advice? Like how to structure my day? Or what activities are easier on the brain? I get so bored and sad and anxious doing nothing. Also I feel really guilty about it and also maybe a little frustrated and self-destructive? So any advice on how to make healthy brain choices would also be welcome.

[Mark in Idaho]

Concussed-Jellybean,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

The first thing you should do is get on a brain healthy diet. Read the Vitamins sticky at the top to see the vitamin and supplement regimen that many use and benefit from.

Stay away from alcohol and caffeine.

There are a lot of low stress activities you can do depending on your opportunities and likes. Outdoor activities, walks, fishing, playing with pets, etc. Or, you can do craft activities, crocheting, knitting, etc. The hands cannot move any faster than a struggling brain can tolerate.

Avoid activities that cause headaches or increase them. Your brain will tell you when you are overdoing it. If you struggle to focus on text or need to reread a line of text means your brain is struggling and fatiguing.

If you pay attention, you will start to notice those signs.

Feel free to tell us or ask us anything. We've heard it all.

We're here to help.

[JuliaP]

Hello!

I'm also good at ignoring headaches and used to enjoy a lot of things that now gives me migraines. Therefore I have had to find new things to fill my days with. For me it's been important to find the balance between not getting exhausted and not getting bored out, since boredom often leads to me doing some activity that is bad for me.

I have had to give up watching movies, but have found the time for and joy of reading again. I've listened to more than 50 audiobooks this year. I avoid those with multiple readers, since they make me exhausted.

I also knit a lot and enjoy colouringbooks and nanoblocks (lego for grown ups). In the beginning I was self-conscious about not doing "smart enough" things, but then I realized that I just have to do things that are good for me.

A good starting point for finding activities (that don't give you headaches) is to imagine what you would do if you went to a cabin without electricity. Or think about what you enjoyed doing before the Internet.

I also use a 30 minutes hour glass to restrict myself while doing exhausting things. You could of course just use an alarm, if you can tackle the biiping.

Good luck!

[Bud]

Julia,

Pretty cool...fun to read how people figure this out and find ways to make it back into productive life.

Way to go!

Bud

[PLAYSMART STAYSMART]

Sorry to hear of your situation, but Mark in Idaho has given you some great advice.

The most important thing to do after sustaining a concussion is to allow your brain time to REST. That means no TV, no strenuous exercise, and even no studying. As a serious student that can sometimes be the hardest part.

When my brother and I started researching the long term effects of concussions, one of the recurring problems was finding that most didn't allow sufficient time for the injury to heal before going back to regular activity. I can't tell you how many of our friends went right back onto the playing field after getting their 'bell rung' because they didn't even realize they had just had a concussion. A "bell-ringer" sounds so much better than a "brain injury", but its really the same thing!

Glad you're getting the help you need and hopefully are now on the road for a full recovery.

[JuliaP]

Originally Posted by Bud

Julia,

Pretty cool...fun to read how people figure this out and find ways to make it back into productive life.

Way to go!

Bud

Thank you! Your comment made me smile (: