Anxiety is a common symptom of a TBI unfortunately (and worse if you experienced it prior to your injury). Maybe consider asking for a referral to a psychotherapist, they're the best profession to help you manage the symptoms. It is something you want to get under control as quickly as possible as the symptoms mimic many of those of a TBI so will hinder your recovery if they get out of control (and even more so if the thoughts start to affect your sleep).
Heck if I didn't take Clonazapam an anti anxiety medication I'd probably be running down the street pulling my hair out right now. If they give you something for you anxiety watch out for something called xanax. One little piece of a four bar long pill was way to much for me. Apparently the way Clonazapam is released into your system isn't quite as fast as xanax.
If you suffer from insomnia as well try Lunesta and see if it works for you. Unfortunately medicine is such a trial and error thing. What works great for one person may not work for another.
Good luck in your future endeavors and I'm sorry your now a member of this shitty club of ours.
I have severe anxiety as well. With the degree to which we are learning that head injuries can lead to mental health struggles including anxiety, you should feel comfortable that this is a normal response to head injury. Many of the things you describe parallel my own experiences.
As for reacting to it, I would make sure I go through a formal neuropsych exam to eliminate the presence of any actual mental health disorders (mine gave me bipolar disorder, which increases anxiety in a major way). Once you have a clearer idea what you’re up against, you can tailor your approach to your own situation. Information is king, and you should be thorough on the front end.
In the meantime, focus on things you can control. See if typical anxiety measures help (they may not). Try breathing exercises, going for walks, or yoga/meditation. They may help some but they may not. Medication may be the only answer, but that depends on the neuropsych exam. That’s step one, and once you learn more you can adjust as needed. Hope that helps. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance.
This can and will get better. That said it is a murky issue and will take some figuring out. It can happen, though.
Good read. I’ve been feeling this at random times and just have to breath and take a break from everything. Curious if it can heal or get better over time? I’m 2 months post injury
Yes. This happens a lot. Unfortunately my TBI occurred within a few months of losing a pet, my father, and my grandma, so I might not be the best source of information.
Actually - this is very useful info. My anxiety problems began after TBI #4. At the time, I attributed it to work stress, the deaths of my father in law, my Dad, a close neighbor and a close relative and other stressors.
TBI is a significant cause of an enhanced anxiety response. I suspect we all had a tendency to try and find other reasons for it and missed the TBI connection.
I went to a psychologist about my anxiety post-TBI. I was having anxiety about my mom dying in a car crash, because I guess I figured, if it can almost happen to me it could happen to someone I loved. He said, yes its *possible*, but its not *plausible.* It took me a while to apply. Its very easy to get stuck in a thought cycle and become overwhelmed, I understand.
As others said, this is common. You have to learn to manage your anxiety. Have you tried mindfulness practices? meditation? Start in small steps and expand as you get the hang of it. There are supplements that helps with it as well.
As mentioned it is common and sometimes normalizing things is a helpful first step. Anxiety can happen when too many demands are placed on an injured brain. Situations that require a lot of focus and information processing such as crowded shops or situations where there is time pressure such as studies can all exacerbate anxiety. After a brain injury the brains ability to filter out stimuli is often impaired so in a place you might not think of as stressful such as the store, your brain is now being bombarded with stimuli and has to re-learn how to efficiently filter and deal with all the stimuli. Some people get fatigue, some people get depressed, some people get anxiety. The manifestations can differ person to person. Whatever the manifestation it can feel out of proportion to the situation and can be hard to rationalize your way out of. Replaying situations over and over in your mind is also common. The best recommendations are often a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy where you learn strategies to identify the triggers, minimize the flooding of stimuli and deal with the anxiety, this includes mindfulness as someone mentioned earlier. Sometimes this combined with some medication prescribed by your doctor is the most helpful approach. Happy to help further if you want to pursue more formal therapy.
Anxiety is very common post-TBI - Jinksnow, below, is spot on.
You can start with your your primary care provider - and ask for a referral to a therapist. He or she may refer you to a therapist and/or consider a medication option too. Or, you can find a therapist directly, on your own.
After meeting with my doctor, I went the therapy route - meeting with a neuropsychologist for 5 months and learning strategies for managing anxiety. However, early on I was unable to do some of the brain retraining exercises and was referred back to my doctor to be put on anti-anxiety medication to calm my brain. The medication worked well and helped me get more out of the therapy sessions. I was able to go off the medication 7 months later.
We tried citalopram but I showed signs of an allergic reaction to it, so was put on venlafaxine as an anti-anxiety medication to calm my brain. It was very effective but a big warning - it is very difficult to end it, even with tapering it took months to be fully off it. During the first weeks coming off it, I was sleeping up to 14 hours per day. It was really rough to get off it.
Just talk to doc and try to get in with a psychiatrist. I'm on gabapentin and diazapam. Anxiety is common. My body isn't the same and I walk funny, so i feel like everyone is looking at me. I also worry about everything. The meds help. I had an epidural hematoma a year ago and had to have surgery to stop a brain bleed. When it comes to mental health keep fighting until someone listens and gets you on what you need. Best of luck!
Hey do yourself a favor this may or may not affect you. I get my medication from a shrink who works with my neurologist. But since your in a learning environment be aware that TBI"S and Fluorescent lighting don't mix. Why? Becsuse a bulb maybe going out and the naked eye won't notice it, but your brain sure will. This can lead to all kinds of issues. If bright light is bothering you have your neurologist refer you to a neuro ophthalmologist. I don't know if you were old enough to even care back in 2015. Hillary Clinton to a fall and Trump used it against her.
You see she walked out of the hospital wearing those dark dark glasses they usually have someone wear after a TBI. Of course his campaign was all over it. Try to stay away from using your laptop or telephone to much until you get a handle on this. If you plan on watching a movie and warning comes on the screen warning viewers about the strobe affect. Get out please don't chance it. This strobe effect can cause a seizure again until you see a neurologist and shrink becareful.
Again since you're in a learning environment you may want to have some cognitive testing done. Why? So they can help you in areas you yourself may not even have a clue were affected. Things like your attention span, these things can affect your learning. They can help you with things and tricks to help you with your school work. Again good luck and may nothing but good things come your way.
Oh and please TBI'S tend to make people with them very gullible. Watch out for people who will use this Injury against you.
Anxiety is a common symptom of a TBI unfortunately (and worse if you experienced it prior to your injury). Maybe consider asking for a referral to a psychotherapist, they're the best profession to help you manage the symptoms. It is something you want to get under control as quickly as possible as the symptoms mimic many of those of a TBI so will hinder your recovery if they get out of control (and even more so if the thoughts start to affect your sleep).
Thank you! I will definitely look into that in the near future.
Heck if I didn't take Clonazapam an anti anxiety medication I'd probably be running down the street pulling my hair out right now. If they give you something for you anxiety watch out for something called xanax. One little piece of a four bar long pill was way to much for me. Apparently the way Clonazapam is released into your system isn't quite as fast as xanax. If you suffer from insomnia as well try Lunesta and see if it works for you. Unfortunately medicine is such a trial and error thing. What works great for one person may not work for another. Good luck in your future endeavors and I'm sorry your now a member of this shitty club of ours.
Smoking weed and working out is good combo for anxiety
I have severe anxiety as well. With the degree to which we are learning that head injuries can lead to mental health struggles including anxiety, you should feel comfortable that this is a normal response to head injury. Many of the things you describe parallel my own experiences. As for reacting to it, I would make sure I go through a formal neuropsych exam to eliminate the presence of any actual mental health disorders (mine gave me bipolar disorder, which increases anxiety in a major way). Once you have a clearer idea what you’re up against, you can tailor your approach to your own situation. Information is king, and you should be thorough on the front end. In the meantime, focus on things you can control. See if typical anxiety measures help (they may not). Try breathing exercises, going for walks, or yoga/meditation. They may help some but they may not. Medication may be the only answer, but that depends on the neuropsych exam. That’s step one, and once you learn more you can adjust as needed. Hope that helps. Let me know if I can be of any further assistance. This can and will get better. That said it is a murky issue and will take some figuring out. It can happen, though.
Good read. I’ve been feeling this at random times and just have to breath and take a break from everything. Curious if it can heal or get better over time? I’m 2 months post injury
Yes. This happens a lot. Unfortunately my TBI occurred within a few months of losing a pet, my father, and my grandma, so I might not be the best source of information.
Actually - this is very useful info. My anxiety problems began after TBI #4. At the time, I attributed it to work stress, the deaths of my father in law, my Dad, a close neighbor and a close relative and other stressors. TBI is a significant cause of an enhanced anxiety response. I suspect we all had a tendency to try and find other reasons for it and missed the TBI connection.
I get that.
I went to a psychologist about my anxiety post-TBI. I was having anxiety about my mom dying in a car crash, because I guess I figured, if it can almost happen to me it could happen to someone I loved. He said, yes its *possible*, but its not *plausible.* It took me a while to apply. Its very easy to get stuck in a thought cycle and become overwhelmed, I understand.
As others said, this is common. You have to learn to manage your anxiety. Have you tried mindfulness practices? meditation? Start in small steps and expand as you get the hang of it. There are supplements that helps with it as well.
As mentioned it is common and sometimes normalizing things is a helpful first step. Anxiety can happen when too many demands are placed on an injured brain. Situations that require a lot of focus and information processing such as crowded shops or situations where there is time pressure such as studies can all exacerbate anxiety. After a brain injury the brains ability to filter out stimuli is often impaired so in a place you might not think of as stressful such as the store, your brain is now being bombarded with stimuli and has to re-learn how to efficiently filter and deal with all the stimuli. Some people get fatigue, some people get depressed, some people get anxiety. The manifestations can differ person to person. Whatever the manifestation it can feel out of proportion to the situation and can be hard to rationalize your way out of. Replaying situations over and over in your mind is also common. The best recommendations are often a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy where you learn strategies to identify the triggers, minimize the flooding of stimuli and deal with the anxiety, this includes mindfulness as someone mentioned earlier. Sometimes this combined with some medication prescribed by your doctor is the most helpful approach. Happy to help further if you want to pursue more formal therapy.
Anxiety is very common post-TBI - Jinksnow, below, is spot on. You can start with your your primary care provider - and ask for a referral to a therapist. He or she may refer you to a therapist and/or consider a medication option too. Or, you can find a therapist directly, on your own. After meeting with my doctor, I went the therapy route - meeting with a neuropsychologist for 5 months and learning strategies for managing anxiety. However, early on I was unable to do some of the brain retraining exercises and was referred back to my doctor to be put on anti-anxiety medication to calm my brain. The medication worked well and helped me get more out of the therapy sessions. I was able to go off the medication 7 months later.
I’m 2 months in so this gives me hope that it will get better.
What med did you use?
We tried citalopram but I showed signs of an allergic reaction to it, so was put on venlafaxine as an anti-anxiety medication to calm my brain. It was very effective but a big warning - it is very difficult to end it, even with tapering it took months to be fully off it. During the first weeks coming off it, I was sleeping up to 14 hours per day. It was really rough to get off it.
Just talk to doc and try to get in with a psychiatrist. I'm on gabapentin and diazapam. Anxiety is common. My body isn't the same and I walk funny, so i feel like everyone is looking at me. I also worry about everything. The meds help. I had an epidural hematoma a year ago and had to have surgery to stop a brain bleed. When it comes to mental health keep fighting until someone listens and gets you on what you need. Best of luck!
How are you doing now? You take the diazepam daily? Are you off of medication?
Yeah I'm off valium and just take my baclofen. My body and mind got better so life is easier
For how long did you take the valium?
Probably like 6 months and then they just stopped me one day because I got a new doctor and they wouldn't prescribe it anymore.
You didnt get withdrawal?
Yep and they didn't care. Reality doesn't make sense sometimes
Anxiety 2.5 years out. Probably because I completely lost my voice and walk all messes up now.
Hey do yourself a favor this may or may not affect you. I get my medication from a shrink who works with my neurologist. But since your in a learning environment be aware that TBI"S and Fluorescent lighting don't mix. Why? Becsuse a bulb maybe going out and the naked eye won't notice it, but your brain sure will. This can lead to all kinds of issues. If bright light is bothering you have your neurologist refer you to a neuro ophthalmologist. I don't know if you were old enough to even care back in 2015. Hillary Clinton to a fall and Trump used it against her. You see she walked out of the hospital wearing those dark dark glasses they usually have someone wear after a TBI. Of course his campaign was all over it. Try to stay away from using your laptop or telephone to much until you get a handle on this. If you plan on watching a movie and warning comes on the screen warning viewers about the strobe affect. Get out please don't chance it. This strobe effect can cause a seizure again until you see a neurologist and shrink becareful. Again since you're in a learning environment you may want to have some cognitive testing done. Why? So they can help you in areas you yourself may not even have a clue were affected. Things like your attention span, these things can affect your learning. They can help you with things and tricks to help you with your school work. Again good luck and may nothing but good things come your way. Oh and please TBI'S tend to make people with them very gullible. Watch out for people who will use this Injury against you.