18 Year Old with Post Concussive Seeking Advice and Sharing Hope!

[AlexNew]

Hey everyone,

I posted in here about 3 months ago when I was 3 months into my PCS. My symptoms were:
"-I feel out of it almost all the time, like I'm not really experiencing things fully.
-Occasional anxiety, it's worse on days I feel especially out of it.
-About once or twice a month I'll have trouble falling asleep
-I get very fatigued and sleepy at different periods of the day, but usually if I rest a bit or eat something I can get over it in about an hour or so.
-Uncomfortable sensitiveness sometimes. It's hard to explain, sometimes if something is touching me but it's not in my line of sight, it will start to bother me until I look at or touch it. "

Well, it's been another three months, and I've definitely seen an improvement.

Lately, I feel a lot back to normal. I feel like I'm experiencing life as I have before and enjoying every minute of it. I do have those days where I feel a bit worse than others, but it doesn't take much to improve my mood.

If I could have some advice that helped people jump over that "final hurdle", it would be much appreciated. I feel like I'm almost recovered but can't quite break through!

I used to feel like I wouldn't ever get better and that I was stuck like this, DON'T THINK THAT WAY!

Things do improve! Try to think healthy and postive thoughts! Eat healthy and try to exercise, it helped to improve me!

Thanks everyone!

[Mark in Idaho]

For some PCS sufferers, especially those who take longer to recover most of their previous brain health and function, there will be residual symptoms that may never go away completely.

My advice to you is to continue living as if your are still trying to recover. Keep your stress low. Eat healthy for your brain. That includes keeping up on supplements like B-6, B-12, Omega 3's, all of the anti-oxidants, etc.

Avoid alcohol or limit it to one serving per day. If you are temped to let go and get drunk, think about reliving the first three months of PCS all over again.

Most people are already over-stressing their brains even though then have no been concussed. Your previously concussed brain will always be an injured brain. Yes, go on with life as if it isn't a concussed brain but live a smart life. Over time, you will start to notice the ups and downs from stress as it effects your brain.

The most important point to keep in mind is quite simple. You have recovered so far but you need to live to protect the 40 year old brain you will have in 22 years. If you live with this in mind, you stand a great chance of having a minimal long term impact from your concussion and the ability to live a full life into and past middle age.

Think of it this way. Once concussed, always concussed.

My best to you.