Afraid

[Consider]

It seems like I will never get better. It's hard to eat and it's hard going out. Everything feels so overwhelming and the pain is unbearable sometimes. By the end of the day, I feel a little better, but then I go back to waking up at 5am in the morning scared and in total pain. I only get 6 hours of sleep and its taking a toll on me. I am also afraid of being alone during this time. Please help!

[musiclover]

Just wanted to send support your way. I experienced the same emotions after my first concussion 2 years ago. It's tough dealing with the physical symptoms, and then you have the emotional component as well. So many people just don't get it and we have to deal with that as well. Give yourself a break and remember you aren't alone!

One thing I have learned in life is that nothing is permanent. Even this time around, I am trying hard to find something positive each day, no matter how small it might be. Maybe it's a less intense headache than the day before. Maybe I'm not quite as dizzy. Sometimes it's just that I got through the day, period.

Hang in there

[Eowyn]

When you're in the middle of it, it does seem like it's lasting forever. The good news is that it doesn't. It will pass (maybe not exactly as quickly as you would like, but it will pass). Just try to focus on the positive things, as small as they may be, and the things that you can do each day to make progress.

You are strong enough to make it through this, and you are not alone.

[Mark in Idaho]

Consider,

What are you doing each day to help your recovery?

What kind of pain? Head aches? Are you icing?

What kind of activities are you doing during the week?

Tell us more about what is going on so we can offer suggestions.

My best to you.

[jes89]

im so sorry you are feeling so alone. nobody should feel that way when going through things like that, but we all do from time to time. i just wanted to say hi and to hang in there..things will look up, not right when you want them to..but stay positive

[srgallan]

Consider,

Just as an add-on to Mark's post, what is an example of your activities in a day currently while your recovering?

It says your an IT student in college? I may of missed some details in some of your past posts, I just browsed quickly. Are you still on a full workload at school? It also says your a gamer, are you still playing video games?

I did not completely grasp rest vs "Brain Rest" which is what I was not doing properly in the early stages of my recovery. I am an IT pro of 14+ years an in early 30's and did many things incorrectly in the beginning.

I was watching TV, fired up the PS3 from time to time and etc....I was stuck at home and not at work so was not sure what to do with myself. That is not rest for your brain.

I am 14 months along and back to work but not full time hours, I avoided the stores and malls over X-mas so did all my shopping online. So right now I still have to balance my life, if I have a 2 hr meeting today I can't go out to get groceries and vice versa. Slow down the amount of information your brain has to process throughout your entire day to find a balance you can cope with. This will be much trial and error as it was for me, I am still having difficulty gauging limits. But I am significantly better than I was. I had to cease all computer and TV for about 2 months and slowly introduce it again.

How is your sleep? You mentioned 6 hrs sleep, is it very restful? Do you follow a proper sleep program/sleep hygiene? If you absolutely have to use a computer in the late evening have you looked into Blue blocking glasses/computer glasses like Gunnar? Some moderate exercise during the day may help you sleep, I started with an elliptical machine.

Who have you seen for your symptoms? A quick item to try that helped me is that I had to switch back from energy efficient bulbs (small fluorescent bulbs) to standard old fashioned incadescent bulbs at home to help the dizziness.

[Consider]

Well my activities consist of lately having my friend come over, and she watches movies and I rest. Sometimes I watch TV, but I usually never leave my chair with all my comfy pillows and candlelight. I try to relax myself as much as possible, if I don't I get anxiety. At night, though, I feel my best. And thats when I play a 30 min session of video games. Sometimes I color in some coloring pages or listen to an audiobook.

As for school, I am online. I am taking 2 online classes.

My diet consists of a banana in the morning with a Powerade to get proper potassium, as my potassium is low according to my doctor. I have noticed when I get some potassium in, I feel less lethargic. For lunch, i usually have a fruit or a sandwich. Dinner is complicated, sometimes I have some soup or something else depending on what my family is eating, sometimes I don't eat what they are eating. I find that its hard to eat, I usually force stuff into my body.

The pain usually starts in the back of my head and my neck is usually stiff. Sometimes it is unbearable, really unbearable. Plus, the insomnia isn't helpful either. I want rest! 5 hours to me isn't enough.

To help my recovery, I have been trying to not do much. I take potassium supplements and I am soon to be taking Omega 3 supplements. Any other suggestions from anyone? And how can I entertain me and my friend without watching television or doing computer related stuff? I still don't feel like myself, I feel like 70%.

[Consider]

Anyone have some insight?

[Mark in Idaho]

PC gaming is stressful on the brain. Have you looked at my vitamins and supplements thread. Your potassium is barely a start at brain nutrition. I'll top post my vitamins thread.

[sospan]

Originally Posted by Consider

Anyone have some insight?

What worked for me was sorting out my diet and enforcing a rigid routine - this means going to bed (midnight) and getting up at the same time (8 am)even if you can't get to sleep right away.

Once I woke up in the morning I would stretch and come to before I got out of bed. I would go downstairs and have my breakfast - cereal with help / flax on top, fruit juice and tea. Take any medication. Then 30 mins of PC time to check email and the forums I follow. Then if I am up to it some domestic work - running the vacuum over a couple of rooms then have a rest and a drink. Because of the speed we work and think you will find it is mid morning.

There is usually some post or something else to sort out until lunchtime. Sandwich for lunch and more fluids then I used to "shut down" for 30 mins. Then I would either go out and do some grocery shopping with my wife or do some odd jobs until 3 o'clock then it would be a rest and more fluids. I would play some solitare or other light game until around 4pm then have a light snack

at 19:00 to 19:30 we start eating our evening meal. Then watch some tv and another 30 min slot of screen time. 10:00 last drink of the day.

Having a routine I found focused my mind and allowed me to plan things and with set periods of rest the family knew when the should leave me alone. I followed this for six months and it helped me greatly. One of the greatest surprised to me is since I have been injured is how quickly the time goes.

BTW I used to spend 18 hours a day in front of screens (TV or PC) and cut this down greatly in the early stages