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


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Old 09-01-2016, 08:03 PM #1
JBuckl JBuckl is offline
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Default How do I reset my autonomic nervous system?

I think most of my symptoms are from an overactive sympathetic nervous system. My eye Dr. said I have a really good case of alpha omega eye, which is what led to my belief. Alpha omega eye is apparently a good sign of an overactive sympathetic nervous system. Plus, looking back, I've spent loads of time in a quiet dark room in the past, and I know the body adapts.

I've learned not to push through symptoms now too, which I have found very important. I realize that I sound like I habitually went in a dark quiet room, which I did and have, but only because I thought it was going to heal me. Only one period of time though did I over-rest and under-stimulate myself. That was after I completely crashed--migraines, burnout from school, inability to read--which was about 2.5 years ago, a month after my last injury. I had no other choice but to go in a dark quiet room. But I know the body adapts, and I've never been nearly as good as I was a few weeks after my last injury before I crashed. *Can that period of time where I over-rested and under-stimulated have made me hypersensitive to stimulus and I've never recovered?*

I've been doing syntonics (syntonic phototherapy) to treat the overactive sympathetic nervous system, and it's worked well in the past and is working very well again. I also am doing vision therapy with a NORA trained DR. and vision therapist. I eat very healthy now, I moderate stress and stimulus levels, take supplements, sleep well, have done loads of therapies, etc.

I feel like the final piece to getting me functional again is this overactive fight or flight response. I'm not a very anxious person, but I have light and sound sensitivity, filtering and overstimulation problems, reading problems, too much sleep problems, all of which are getting better.

*However, what else can a person do to heal up the brain's filters and reduce this overactive fight or flight response?*

I feel like things like meditating calm me down mentally, but physiologically they don't do a whole lot. I'm like a computer that overheats and I need time (usually 25-30 minutes of quiet non-stimulating room or walking) to cool down and return to baseline before I can go back to stimulating activities.

*Physiologically, does it take time for whatever chemicals secreted during the stress response to clear?* I certainly realize healthy, non-brain injured people need breaks as well.
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Old 09-01-2016, 10:13 PM #2
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
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I wonder if you may be doing two things that don't help. You may be pushing too hard with with the syntonics, maybe even the the vision therapy.
You may also be over-reactive to slight symptom increases causing them to magnify to a problematic level.

I say this because you 'appear' to always be in crisis mode about your struggles. I may be misinterpreting your posts but over the years, I have seen this same thing many times. Usually, when people give themselves and their PCS a break, things start to improve.

The research backs this up.

What are you doing to move forward with your life ?
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"Thanks for this!" says:
JBuckl (09-02-2016)
Old 09-02-2016, 11:33 AM #3
JBuckl JBuckl is offline
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I definitely agree with what you said. I do post when I'm in "crisis" mode. Yesterday, I just had a small flare up in symptoms. I tend to get caught up in the moment, and have trouble taking a step back often.

The truth is, is that I've had significant improvement in the past month and a half. This past Sunday, I actually went to church at a cathedral, went to a very noisy restaurant without wearing earplugs, and visited with my aunt and uncle for a couple hours. That's the most I've done in probably two years. And I didn't even crash the next day.

I do not think I am overdoing the syntonics and vision therapy, however. I've actually been doing syntonics less than they recommend (1x a day) because my eyes can't tolerate it everyday. I do it two days on, one day off. I have been doing the vision therapy as much as they recommend though, and I have been able to read, write, and study for longer periods of time.

*What am I doing to move forward with my life?* Good question. I've been exercising a lot more, being careful not to overdo it. I'm taking one online class through a local community college, which keeps me a more organized and with more of a routine and schedule. I'm staying in touch with friends and relatives more. I'm taking supplements, eating very healthy, sleeping well, playing guitar, doing brain exercises, seeing a psychologist, and doing random reading of posts and podcasts and listening to videos.

I think I just need to be patient and be content with the progress that I am making. I saw my aunt on Sunday, who is a speech pathologist working with TBI patients. She said I'm doing the right things, and that she thinks I just need to get out there more. So I'm trying to do that, obviously without overdoing it.

Thanks for the responses as always, Mark! You're extremely valuable to this NT community.
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Old 09-02-2016, 04:57 PM #4
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
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Yes, get out there more. BUT, that does not mean you spend hours in sounds, sights, and other stimulus. If two hours are a problem such that you can only do it once every few weeks, do more frequent shorter duration activities.

I've been through this. I pushed just a bit beyond my tolerance level but did it frequently. I don't push into a setback, just an awareness of hitting my limit. Over time, I can go a bit longer before I am aware of hitting my limit.

Regarding Syntonics. I find it odd that there is no online information except by the Syntonics people and those promoting it. The clinical studies do not appear in any peer reviewed journals. It is not a broadly supported therapy.

In reading the study, I see three issues. Most achieve the changes within a short time span of a 6 weeks or less. The rate of improvement is widely varied and includes some negative changes. Some cases show improvement then a degradation. Most of the subjects used in the studies have learning disabilities.

I don't see any mention of sympathetic nervous system reset. There are comments about stimulating the sympathetic nervous system.

My point is. Don't get overly obsessed with the idea that Syntonics will fix you. It may help or hurt.

I've learned that any doctor or therapy that does no show positive change deserves to be questioned. Chiropractic neurologists or functional neurologists as they now prefer, possibly to avoid the term chiropractor, have this same track record of helping some, doing nothing for others and causing increased symptoms for others. No amount of salesmanship can overcome the inadequacy of doctors and therapies that do not work for every patient.

Your list of activities exhausts me yet I don't see anything that shows short term productivity. No job or activities that have a productive result. Doing things that generate a sense of productivity is very important. The brain chemistry that results from feeling productive leads to improvements in symptoms.

Maybe you could find some tasks that give you a sense of accomplishment outside taking an online class, even if it is delivering pizzas and coming home with a pill of tips.
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Old 09-05-2016, 02:53 PM #5
Hains Hains is offline
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I dug into the ANS not that long ago I came up with a few good strategies worth sharing:

1) ANS Reset Maneuver:
I came across this maneuver on a Ben Greenfield podcast and it involves 'unlocking' sympathetic stress. It is based on the theory that sympathetic stress directs blood flow to the arms and legs to compliment a literal sabertooth tiger fight or flight response. The maneuver is to be done once a day for 2 to 3 weeks. It involves laying on your back, head on flat ground (not a pillow), with your legs up on a couch. Imagine sitting on a chair and it being tipped backwards. You spend 30 minutes like this completely relaxed, no flexed abs or legs or any other muscle, complete relaxation. This works well with meditation. If you don't meditate effectively, listen to binaural beats or nature sounds. This will redirect 'locked' blood in the hamstrings, quads and biceps back into the gut and brain, thus resetting the ANS.

2) The adaptogenic herb ashwaganda.
This is commonly prescribed by functional medicine practitioner for adrenal gland fatigue. It calms the ANS by suppressing cortisol and promoting testosterone.

3) Activating the mammalian dive reflex.
This directly works on the vagus nerve related to the parasympathetic nervous system and is another biohack based on evolutionary thought and proven by science. When your face is submerged in cool to cold water, it increases vagus nerve tone and slows your heart rate. So, when your anxious or approaching bedtime, fill a large bowl with cold water and dunk your face for 30-40 seconds. Thats it. That will activate the mammalian dive reflex. Keep the dunk times short so as not to risk drowning. When my sleep sucks, I do 2 sets of this before bedtime.

4) Breathing Exercises.
Box breathing can calm the sympathetic nervous system. In fact, Navy Seals are trained to do this prior to missions. It is as easy as a couple minutes of 4second inhale, 4second hold, 4second exhale, 4second hold with zero force and relaxed muscles.

5) Meditate.

Hope these help

Hains
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Old 07-20-2017, 10:19 PM #6
KimL KimL is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JBuckl View Post
I think most of my symptoms are from an overactive sympathetic nervous system. My eye Dr. said I have a really good case of alpha omega eye, which is what led to my belief. Alpha omega eye is apparently a good sign of an overactive sympathetic nervous system. Plus, looking back, I've spent loads of time in a quiet dark room in the past, and I know the body adapts.

I've learned not to push through symptoms now too, which I have found very important. I realize that I sound like I habitually went in a dark quiet room, which I did and have, but only because I thought it was going to heal me. Only one period of time though did I over-rest and under-stimulate myself. That was after I completely crashed--migraines, burnout from school, inability to read--which was about 2.5 years ago, a month after my last injury. I had no other choice but to go in a dark quiet room. But I know the body adapts, and I've never been nearly as good as I was a few weeks after my last injury before I crashed. *Can that period of time where I over-rested and under-stimulated have made me hypersensitive to stimulus and I've never recovered?*

I've been doing syntonics (syntonic phototherapy) to treat the overactive sympathetic nervous system, and it's worked well in the past and is working very well again. I also am doing vision therapy with a NORA trained DR. and vision therapist. I eat very healthy now, I moderate stress and stimulus levels, take supplements, sleep well, have done loads of therapies, etc.

I feel like the final piece to getting me functional again is this overactive fight or flight response. I'm not a very anxious person, but I have light and sound sensitivity, filtering and overstimulation problems, reading problems, too much sleep problems, all of which are getting better.

*However, what else can a person do to heal up the brain's filters and reduce this overactive fight or flight response?*

I feel like things like meditating calm me down mentally, but physiologically they don't do a whole lot. I'm like a computer that overheats and I need time (usually 25-30 minutes of quiet non-stimulating room or walking) to cool down and return to baseline before I can go back to stimulating activities.

*Physiologically, does it take time for whatever chemicals secreted during the stress response to clear?* I certainly realize healthy, non-brain injured people need breaks as well.


J, I don't know if you will see this but I'm having the EXACT same issues. I am wondering if you ever figured it out or got better? I am about to go to sensory integration therapy to help but not sure this will do anything or not.
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Old 07-21-2017, 08:13 PM #7
JBuckl JBuckl is offline
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Hi Kim,

I'm doing much better now thanks to syntonics, vision therapy, and high doses of supplements. I just finished day 7 of 9 of work. A year ago, I wouldn't be able to work a shift.

I read a book, which deals mainly with mental health (mental health is brain health), and there are loads of people who don't produce enough antioxidants and/or have metal overloads that can accumulate.

I'm going to get tested soon, but I respond super well to antioxidant supplements.

Feel free to ask more questions. I was a bit brief and all over the place with my response...
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