I have a 35lb, 5 month old great pyrenees mix that loves to sit on my lap. The only problem is that she doesn't know where her body is in space all the time and has a tendency to whip her head up into my jaw. I've taken one or two of these hits before without bother but am spiraling a bit after taking a particularly hard one yesterday.

I've heard anecdotes of people getting concussed from their dogs and know you can certainly sustain a concussion from a jaw hit. My last concussion was almost two years ago from mountain biking and with a somewhat long concussion history, I'm very sensitive about head hits now.

Right now, I'm feeling a bit spacy and have a very stiff neck and intermittent headache. I also deal with anxiety and know I could be manifesting these symptoms.

Any help for how to approach this? Is there a chance I am concussed or am I probably making this up again? Or is it maybe a mix and my neck muscles locked up to keep my head from moving?

Thanks in advance friends.

traxtion,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

It sounds like you suffer from Concussion Anxiety Syndrome. That can be caused by pre-existing anxiety, especially health anxiety or a low threshold for developing inflammation in the brain.

I have never heard an anecdote about a person getting concussed from their dog in the 15 years I have followed online concussion forums.

A 35 pound dog does not have the impact force to cause a concussion.

Rather than address whether this could be a concussion, I would hope you would answer a simple question.

What difference does it make whether this could be a concussion?

What would you do differently going forward?

Would you ask for time off work or from studies.... just because?

Would you plan your future anticipating developing CTE in the next few years?

You can't back up time and change what already happened so why does a probable diagnosis even matter?

Are you looking for information to feed and justify your anxiety?

btw, I've had over 14 concussions over a 50 year span. I never did anything different after any of them except for a hospital stay after the second, very severe concussion.

Hi traxtion,
I very much doubt that you are posting here "looking for information to feed and justify your anxiety" as suggested. You actually said "I'm feeling a bit spacy and have a very stiff neck and intermittent headache. I also deal with anxiety and know I could be manifesting these symptoms". You answered your own questions in a sense.

It's very common for people to be afraid of sustaining another concussion and some people even start avoiding certain situations. From personal experience that's never good for long term healing. Anxiety is also a possible symptom of the post concussion syndrome PCS so I don't know if your anxiety started after your concussion 2 years ago or if it's something you've always dealt with.

Those of us who deal with anxiety in this world do not go around public forums looking to "feed and justify" our anxiety"! Those of us with anxiety struggle to find understanding and freedom from symptoms, often lifelong, despite putting in all the hard work.

When the symptoms (flight or fight) of one condition overlap or are the same as a symptom of another condition, whether that be pre-existing or post concussion, then there's a need to sort it out.

In your case it's been 2 years post concussion. The dog hit is hardly going to hit your head or neck hard enough to give you another concussion, and you recognise that the symptoms you are having right now ae the same as when you have anxiety, then work on calming techniques and knowledge about what fear does to the body. Starting with the physical signs.

Look after yourself. Take measures to lessen your anxiety. Learn what anxiety does to the body and that can help you recognise what's going on. Learn how to breathe correctly.

Learn to recognise a bout of anxiety coming on just by being present in your body. Recognise that "aura" around you as your pulse rises, and your breathing is disrupted. Notice the perspiration on your hands.

Breathe.

Learn these signs and tell yourself that you are going to be alright. This will pass, but importantly if you continue to feel really off and need help, go to your doctor. That goes for any condition.

all the best.

There are many different causes and reasons for people to exhibit fear and or anxiety.OCD for example is an anxiety "disorder".People on Autism spectrum deal with more than one type of anxiety often.Traumatic events can lead to ongoing fear.

It's always best to talk with a professional if you deal with long term anxiety symptoms.

Having said that there are many self-help methods for dealing with our anxiety. That's apart from things like CBT (or even medications). Although Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is very helpful to re-learn patterns of behaviour, when we've dealt with anxiety for a very long time, it can be difficult learning healthier coping mechanisms. However, it can be done.

Some of these self-help ideas may be useful for you, but some may not. You probably already know about all these ideas I've mentioned, plus it's different for every individual.

Self-Help for Anxiety: 7 Ways to Calm Anxiety at Home