I sustained my head injuries during my senior year of high school, which was a little less than three years ago. I only worked before the injuries and not during or after. I worked at a grocery store and the local pool. I have no training besides those jobs. As much as I'd like to work right now, I don't see that happening any time soon.

I did have a neuro-psych evaluation. Is that different than an assessment?

Some limitations that schizoaffective disorder (SZA) has had on me is getting bizarre intrusive thoughts throughout the day, though this symptom is mild. I also have a very low tolerance for stress and have a poorer ability to filter out noises and extra stimulus. My emotions are much more blunted, and my memory doesn't seem to be like it used to. Some of these are hard to tell whether or not they're from brain injury, schizoaffective symptoms, and/or the med that I take--Abilify.

Though it's debateable, schizophrenias are degenerative in nature caused by lots of oxidative stress and abnormal neurotransmitter levels leading to loss in gray matter. I can't think of any other reason why my recovery is so poor than the SZA having some negative effects on my brain.

I had my vision checked by Chang, Amy, O.D., F.A.A.O and went through vision therapy at the same hospital. I apparently made rather quick improvements to my vision, but my symptoms only improved with the syntonic phototherapy. I thought Dr. Chang was really good, but she made it sound like I didn't need prism glasses. She did say that they would be like a crutch. I assume that I still have some neuro-visual problems because I responded really well to syntonic phototherapy (until I did it too much), and now I can't tolerate quick movements on screens or flashing lights.

A thorough NeuroPsych Assessment would yield a report that describes your different functions and intelligence levels. It would usually have a Trail Making Test, a WAIS-II Intelligence Scale, a Wechsler Memory Scale, Finger tapping test, MMPI-II, and a few others or tests that test for the same attributes. They take about 4 hours or more in most cases.

"I also have a very low tolerance for stress and have a poorer ability to filter out noises and extra stimulus. My emotions are much more blunted, and my memory doesn't seem to be like it used to." These are all common PCS symptoms. Not really part of SZA but can be concomitant.

I still have all of them and have had many of them plus depression for 40 to 50 years at varying levels with a big increase since my injury in 2001. But, I have accomplished much. Dropped out of pre-dentistry college due to PCS struggles. Started 6 different profitable businesses over 30 years ( I have a short business attention span until my last business that I ran for 15 years.) Owned 8 different homes. 3 kids, 5 grandkids, married 36 years.

I have no formal training for any of the businesses or jobs I have had.

I learned by trial and error and realized I needed a low stress life. My first NeuroPsych Assessment in 2002 finally defined what I had been dealing with for decades. I never paid much attention to my symptoms except to avoid making them worse and living a low stress life. I've never been without sunglasses or a hat since 1971 because of light sensitivities.

Focus on learning to work with your current state and move forward. Find tasks to do to get out of the house. Forget about trying to rewire your brain. If it happens over time, great. You will do more for your brain by getting on with your life, even if it is at a reduced level. Baby steps forward. Forget about SZA being a degenerative condition. That is not a hard and fast concept. Many live with SZA successfully.

Choose to move forward. It is your choice. Every journey starts with a single step.