Strange thing happened to me last night in that I was out with a couple of pals, one I really like and the other not so much. We had a bit of banter like we usually do but then it went a little far with the one I don't like and it ended up with me claming up and not talking in the car. I found that easier to do than join in with the conversation as I was getting more and more brain fatigued. I could feel the energy drawing out of me and the care toward this guy was going too. I wasn't interested in anything he had to say nor get involved in the conversation it was like my care for conversation had gone. Not like me at all usually chatting and having a laugh all the way. It ended up with me not enjoying the evening and wanting to go home as I felt mentally drained. I know a little about brain fatigue through this site and through the booklets from Headway and I'm sure it was this. Funny though as its happed a few times in that by 8:00 i can be brain fatigued. Any one else had this symptom and if so does it where off over time and any advice on helping the symptom? N
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MXman
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Most if not all days, it has improved over time, and I've got better at managing it. On the whole I've not found any way of really solving it, it's really about working what you want and can do in a day and sometimes prioritising and letting some things slide.
You're on a similar timeline to me, and I've found that withdrawal is my natural response to it as well, when I get overwhelmed, whether from over-working, being over-stimulated, or just being plain old fatigued for no obvious reason, I just sort of shut down.
I'm coping by trying to recognise the signs earlier, and give myself more time to 'escape'- the husband and son are getting used to me just taking myself off to bed. There's no obvious trigger I can avoid, 'normal' life can be overwhelming. I find I can sometimes bring myself out of the brain-fog by concentrating on my breathing, done a lot of work with kids with panic attacks over the years, breathing focus can help.
Not a whole load of help, I know, but there are lots of us on here finding our feet, and someone further down the line might be able to help more.
I have times I can't converse because I'm too exhausted, most days I get brain fatigue for one reason or another. If I don't sleep well, the whole day can be a write off, just had one of those, tried to work through it when I should have just given in and rested.
Trouble is I keep hoping I'm going to be able to function like I used to.
Maybe it will improve but I'm over 3years down the line now,
The truth is, recovery is personal to each and every one of us, who can tell.
It sounds familiar. I used to politely pretend to be interested in boring conversation just to avoid offending anyone, but nowadays I have only limited energy even for what interests me, so for anything else, my brain automatically shuts down.
It's a matter of allocating your time efficiently and being very selective about who you spend it with. It doesn't allow much room for spontaneity but I found that life can still be good once I stopped squandering my time and energy. x
Yes I have this quite often, still holding a problem with fatigue it's like hitting a wall isn't it? Just need to avaoid getting too tired make sure you get enough rest when you need it, from my experience it's best to try and avaoid the stage you've got to try to rest before you get like this because I have found that people find it very hard to understand you when you try to explain your actions with them if you know what I mean, people can take offence you just need to make it clear that people around you know that fatigue is still a problem you hold at the moment and are working on!
I remember sitting at a big family meal in a pub, probably in the first year of my illness. There must have been 15 of us round the table and we had barely got the plates in front of us before I completely zoned out. My sisters, who didn't have a clue (still don't - I wouldn't go out with any of them these days because it would be too much of a drain) made a number of comments to the effect that I was being unsociable. We got to dessert and I told my husband I needed to escape which we did. I have avoided such gatherings ever since.
So there really are only two fixes - avoidance, and spending time with people who aren't so self centred as to take offence when your condition takes over and tkes you out. As time goes on you learn who falls into that second bracket and who doesn't, and for them you apply fix No. 1.
So you would probably be ok with pal 1, but pal 2 might be an avoid in future, because it is easier.
I often forget that I'm brain fatigued and end up getting increasingly angry at those around me and very short tempered.
Unless I am with others who know about my brain injury, then sometimes it takes for them to comment that I'm being unusually aggressive, which seems to flick a switch and remind me to go have some time out and off load.
Even walking out side, to get some peace and quiet, and stop the bombardment of noise and conversation for a couple of minutes often works, or I may be too far gone, and realise it's time to go home and do my own thing without any of the worlds distractions.
I get fatigue. At last Christmas I got so fatigued that at the end of the evening I cold not talk. (I worried my mum, as she thought I was having a seizure).
Now i am more careful about how much I do, or converse. When I am getting fatigued I try and just switch off. Luckily I have a very understanding family
It's funny, cod up to last year, when I went on a 'Pace your Life' group, I never felt tired. I could swim, walk, and talk! I think my brain suddenly stared 'recognizing' fatigue.
I'm trying to be positive, as I think my brain is slowly healing, and if it recognizes fatigue, it can only be a good thing that it's telling me when to stop.
Yep that all is me. Pleased I'm not alone. Ill have to adjust and adapt. Funny because I know when its coming and in hindsight I shouldn't have gone. N
Having a lie down in the afternoon with some nice soft music or a relaxation CD shuts my brain down for a while and refreshes me if I have an evening out planned. It's all about knowing yourself and using pacing etc. so the brain doesn't overload.
Fatigue really bugs me, but it seems to be an inevitable consequence of BI. I work full-time as my BI is a long-term issue. If I start feeling fatigued while at my desk it is manageable as I take a short walk or grab a coffee. That takes the edge off. The most difficult thing is when I'm in meetings. My brain just switches off sometimes and I can't remember what others have just said. Other times I can actually feel my eyes closing. I sometimes try sucking mints which helps. But anyone got any other tips to stop this happening please? I'm so worried about looking rude. Not many people know about my BI and therefore I can't expect any sympathy I guess.
I have only just realized its probably brain fatigue I thought at first it was my epilepsy meds making me feel sleepy but I believe its a combination of both.because before I started my meds I did get moments of suddenly feeling really tired.
It's fine some days then others it really throws me out of sync, like yesterday at work I had a funny turn went to first aid who then sent me to A&E because of my history and I knew what would happen blood work came back ok.
This wobbler I had though did feel different to what I am used to feeling so possibly without realizing as you do ,got over anxious which bloody annoys me when Dr's say this or the looks on collegues faces says it all.
I have or am learning not to open my mouth when someone really annoys me I'm surprised I've still got a tongue with the amount of times I have had to bite it(not literally).
When I need to get away from people at work I tell some of them I'm off to my "chill out zone" and off I go....
Thats one of the problems I have gab I open my mouth with out engaging brain first and then its to late... I am learning to act and not react though but it takes time.
I don't know about your exact BI details but if it's similar to mine then you were in one of the worst situations that night. Divided attention / multitasking / task switching is something I'm now measured at as 'impaired' so my brain has to work extremely hard in those situations and I'm guessing yours is the same. No wonder you were mentally exhausted.
Any other factors added to mix may have influenced your mood too e.g. Late night, a few drinks, noisy environment, etc.
Well done for being passive and not aggressive though. I've found its better to clam-up rather than verbally lash out.
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Advice husband recently sustained Traumatic Brain Injury.
Brain quiver/ brain shake 
Stimulating the mind of someone with brain injury
'Letter from your brain'
