There are times I wish I was wearing some sort of cast to let people know I am still injured. There are no visual cues for the external world to see that someone with a brain injury is not completely healed.

It isn't sympathy I am looking for, it is understanding. Perhaps that is why I am participating in these forums. It is one of the only places where someone with a brain injury can feel as though they are understood by others.

A lot of times out in the rest of the world I feel as though I am going crazy. I start to question myself. Then I read something someone has written on here that mirrors some of the struggles I am going thru. Suddenly I don't feel so alone.

Anyone else feel that way?

Hey, I know exactly what you're going through. I'm currently into my third week of PCS symptoms and they're everything from mundane tiredness to unmanageable panic attacks and anxiety not to mention foggy memory and concentration issues. After the second week i thought my symptoms were wearing away until just a few days ago when all of a sudden those symptoms began to reveal itself in the most relentless form. I began to panic and it seemed like i was losing all hope and a notion of despair started to sink in. What helps me through all the amplified gloom and sickness is talking to friends and family and also focusing on the notion that the symptoms will subside within a rational time frame, and that eventually you me and everyone else will eventually get back to normal whether its next week or next month. If you want a good and positive insight into PCS, that has helped me cope and deal with the symptoms i suggest you take a look at this link.. I hope and know that you will feel better in time. Good luck>

Copper,
I have had the same thought. The funny part of it is I found out I had brain aneursyms when a MRI was ordered after I woke up with facial drooping on the right side. The drooping was actually due to Bell's Palsey. In the few weeks until my face recovered people offered to let me go first in line and smiled pleasantly while talking slowly, etc. I wanted to put a sign around my neck saying there was nothing wrong with my mind, only my face. Who would have thought that a few months later (after brain injury post craniotomy) I would be wanting to wear a sign saying "please be understanding. my brain has been hurt though I'm looking just fine".

hi copper

discreet brain injury is one of the terms that have been applied to me or frontal lobe damage people may read up on these and jump to conclusions most the majority of PCS will get better on its own in time its all a matter of degree,s I have 30 screws in my head but you wouldn't know to look at me we have to be real careful NOT to hit our heads the cops picked me up off the floor with a fractured skull and neck injury and CSF coming out my nose and took me to hospital It is hard to take when people cant see that you are damaged I have had to go through work focused interviews medical assessments and you feel you are on trial

It sucks

sorry about the vent

kind regards Vini