Hello all.
I have been experiencing anxiety recently that I need to straighten out with facts.
Here is my background.

When I was being born, the doctor who delivered me with forceps was too rough and caused a perinatal stroke. He went on to kill another child during a similar process and subsequently lose his medical license.
I suffered no long-term issues from this incident and developed normally, as 60% of those who suffer perinatal stroke do.

When I was a child, my mother rear-ended another car in a turn lane while I was sitting in the seat behind her without a seatbelt on. I blinked, and when I opened my eyes I was in her lap in the same turn lane. It could not have been longer than a few moments. I remember scrambling to climb back to my seat so that she could pull off into a parking lot. To this day I am not sure if I was knocked unconscious, or if the incident did in fact happen in the blink of an eye and I didn't hit my head.

Years later I took a soccer ball to the face and experienced vision issues and dizziness for about ten minutes, although there was no headache or amnesia whatsoever. I believe this was likely a concussion.

Finally, when I was about thirteen years old, I was at baseball practice fielding a pop fly in the outfield. I lost it in a powerful field light, and it landed right on my forehead and bounced about 15 feet. I saw some stars, but I ran to the ball and fielded it without missing a beat. No dizziness, no headache, no amnesia, no confusion. Just the visual distortion.

I am currently in college studying science, and recently I have been reading a lot about how detrimental multiple concussions can be. As you might guess, I'm worried about my mind.

I have a couple of questions. First, how likely is it that my baseball incident was indeed a concussion despite only experiencing a brief visual distortion?

Finally, how worried should I be about any brain damage I have incurred over the years? Is it stable? Will it get worse?

Hypo,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

There is no value to trying to determine if any of your past injuries or events were a concussion. Every concussion is different and every brain's response to a concussion is different. Some can get knocked out and never experience any problems.

If these three events were the only times you may have experienced a concussion, you have survived to adulthood quite well. Your biggest concern should be avoiding anxiety issues. The toxins that anxiety can leave in your brain can cause trouble.

Yes, there is a risk but most who have problems have experienced multiple concussions plus a lifetime of lesser impacts. Even then, the researchers are confounded why some develop problems and some do not.

The only thing you can do at this point is take care of your brain. Reduce/avoid stressors to your brain like getting drunk or using recreational chemicals. Avoid risky activities like heading a soccer ball or other contact sports that can result in concussions. Seriously consider brain health nutrition. There is a brain health vitamin regimen in the Vitamins sticky at the top. B's, D-3, and the anti-oxidants and Omega 3 fish oil would all be worthwhile.

Try to consider this simple question. Even if you did suffer 3 concussions and they did leave you with some level of brain injury, how would that change your life ?

Is brain injury stable, or does it get worse with time?
I only asked about the questionable baseball injury because the fewer concussions, the better I would feel about the whole thing.
Thank you.

As I said, your concern should focus on taking care of your brain. Nobody can answer your question. It all depends on the magnitude of the injury and how your specific brain responds. For those who see a delayed symptomology, it usually does not show up until later in life, like the 40s and 50s.

Many of us have had many concussions. I've had 14 or so. I did not see a noticeable problem until my 13th and 14th concussions at 41 and 44. But, I learned early in my life that I needed to avoid stressful situations, including stressful occupations.

For many, they can live symptom free except when they are in a stressful event. Anxiety about "what if" from a past concussion is such a stressful situation.

I am missing part of a finger and thumb. Do I stress about it ? No, I just go on with life.

I have deteriorating osteoarthritis in my hands. Do I stress about it ? No. I go on with life and take care of my hands to slow the progression.

Stressing about what the future holds as a result of unknown bumps to your head will make you miserable. As I said, you could have suffered 3 concussions and never have a problem. Nobody can say.

The facts are quite simple. People who develop neurological problems with memory and such usually have a history of some sort of brain trauma. But, not everybody who experiences brain trauma develops neurological problems. There is an increased "probability" but nothing that says problems WILL develop.

You could develop neurological problems with memory and such from poor sleep like that caused by anxiety.

So, stop trying to find a problem to worry about when none exists.

As I said, What would you do if the baseball did some damage ? How would that change your life at the present ?

Try to put that concept in perspective. I had 8 concussions by college, one required 3 days of hospitalization. I'm 62 and my IQ tests in the top levels. I have some visual processing issues but I can do just about anything I want.
I knew I had brain damage at 15 but went on with my life with my only limit being no contact sports and reducing stress.

Everybody should be trying to reduce stress.

So, what are you going to do to move forward ?

When I realized that my anxiety was about to be an issue, I immediately signed myself up for counseling on campus. My second session is tomorrow morning.

I am hoping that my counselor will help equip me with coping mechanisms so that I might keep anxiety at bay.

Other than that, I do not have anything going on regarding mental health.

It might be worthwhile to print out this thread so your therapist can read it and understand the concussion issues from both sides.

Hypo,

I am assuming here that everything in your life was humming along just fine until you started reading the multiple concussion info, leads me to think you are just fine.

I would hazard a guess that these athletes who suffer from such things are far beyond what has happened to you on a continual basis for many years. I read an article the other day on football and CTE studies...linemen can have 3 to 4 concussive impacts and have had up to 62 sub concussive impacts a game for an individual player counted in the study game replays.

That's abuse to the excess.

As far as the anxiety goes I find keeping my mind disciplined with prayer and Bible time works great. When I do get anxious I have noticed recently that it is always worry of the future or a stupid choice in the past that starts the process so I remind myself to bring my thoughts back to NOW, seems to help.

Enjoy school!

Bud