Hello everyone! I'm very excited to have found this forum, I only wish I had found it sooner!
aaaahh I'm trying to make a nice first impression, but my hands are shaking as I start to type to be honest

At the end of the year in 2011(I was 14) I was hit by an SUV while crossing a road. I don't know now how long I was out -the week in the hospital kind of blurs together you know- but along with the uuhh numerous broken and fractured bones, I had a significant bruise on my left frontal lobe. (I don't remember but I've been told that when I was awake, nothing that I said made sense, and that I cursed really loudly in the childrens' hospital they took me to ehehe.) I did one minor test following my discharge to test my cognitive function but it really seemed to be only testing for the a very basic level of functioning.. but they told me I'd be fine in a year tops so everyone just accepted that as done.

In the years following, I have seen a handful of therapists and psychiatrist. When I explained my situation, I always said my (psychological) troubles really began after the accident. Every doctor of every kind that I saw, however, only wanted to focus on my depression and medicate me for it. In hindsight, I think the spotlight put on just the depression may have done more harm than good.

I guess I should say- since my accident I have dealt with consistent, intrusive thoughts of suicide, along with various communication troubles, worsening eyesight, sleep problems, depressive symptoms, difficulty concentrating, physical and mental fatigue, ehh the list goes on but I don't need to list them all I'm sure we all have our own long lists..

Finally a year or so ago, as a result of seeking psychiatrist recommendations from the school I was attending's nurse and letting it slip that I was having intrusive suicidal thoughts, I was 5150'd. I won't get into the experience here, but it was awful and I have since lost a serious amount of trust for psych professionals as a whole.

Only recently after doing my own searches have I heard that any of what I've been experiencing for the last 7 years could have to do with the brain injury I sustained when I was hit ( + a concussion or 2 from more trivial things afterward)! This feels like a huge breakthrough, to find that I'm not just an eternally depressed person with no hope as I had really begun to feel.

But now I don't know how to proceed from here. It's been years since the instigating event and I don't know if it's... too late for rehabilitation as it should happen? I have been trying to figure out what I should do now, but often when I try to research, I feel like the feedback loop of my brain trying to self-evaluate overwhelms me so much that either a) I just stop being able to think like I've short-circuited or something or b) I get a splitting headache that feels like my brain in trying to just pop out of my head! OR c) both!

I'm trying to get better about getting enough vitamins and nutrients right now, but beyond that (and kind of within that too lol) I'm at a loss! I look forward to communicating with more people on these forums~ but if anyone has any advice, kind or understanding words, similar stories to share here, I would really appreciate it! I've never had anyone to talk to who could relate to these feelings of mine before, so I am excited

Lovelee,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Seeing your screen name has kicked my brain into the 1970s Stevie Wonder song, Isn't She Lovely, a song he wrote at the birth of his daughter. Now it can loop in your head. It's beautiful. Stevie Wonder-Isn't She Lovely Lyrics - YouTube

Yeah, my brain can get triggered and stuck on things.

You are not too late to improve. I suffered a serious brain injury requiring hospitalization until my speech improved at 10 yo. I struggled with depression and the thoughts that come with it for 17 years before a doctor got me directed into serious brain nutrition and supplementation. Check the Vitamins sticky at the top. It is based on what this doctor told me. It changed my life.

I'm sorry to hear you were 5150'd. I guess you are in California. I hope they followed the statute in your care and welfare check. It can be a troubling event without the heavy handed actions of some agencies.

I am glad to hear you are doing as well as you are. A friend was hit by a car and took 2 years to learn to walk and talk.

Are you taking any meds?

Personally, I find that I depend on B-12 and 5-HTP to maintain a basic level of functioning.

Please feel free to tell us about your various struggles. Many have learned work-arounds and other skills to deal with the trials of PCS. Prolonged PCS does not have to stop us from living a full life.

My best to you.

-Thanks for saying that, Mark! That's a beautiful song, I chose this username because me name is Lee and someone called me "lovelee" once and I thought it was the sweetest thing!

-This is very good to hear, its so hard to find any kind of information on uuhh what to expect trying to recover so long after a TBI.. I feel like there must be ways that I can improve too but I feel so lost about where to look and how to get there.


I'm not on any medication right now. I've been prescribed a number of different SSRIs and bupropion in the past and am very hesitant to try any other meds after experiencing those. I am taking B-12 and B complex supplements though and have 5-HTP lying around too that I had just forgotten about. Your vitamin post is very helpful and I will be referencing it as I work on adjusting my own regiment to see what works for me!