Zombie-like, has anyone experienced episodes of this?

[Lalaland88]

Has anyone experienced episodes of becoming 'zombie-like'?

I have post concussion syndrome. I am a single mother with a 6, 4 and 2 year old. My 6yo has PTSD which has to be constantly managed. It is just me and my children 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

My last 'zombie' episode last 7hours and I obviously worry about my children during these episodes. Can anyone offer some insight.

I have spoken to my doctor, he just says to try Headspace which if you dont know is an app for meditation.

Does anyone perhaps have some coping tips. Thank you

[cat3]

Being alone with three children to care for certainly raises the bar for finding coping methods m'dear.

I raised my son & daughter alone since ages 11 & 8 and that was challenging enough, but caring for three so young at such a weird time in history, and with a brain injury ??

I'm not surprised you're having 'Zombie' episodes. Recovering from concussion, even alone with rest and quiet, can be a lengthy process and I'm assuming that there's no one to lighten the load, especially during the lockdown.

I guess that coping with so much is raising your fatigue levels to an all time high, and that your poor brain is trying to protect itself by zoning out when overwhelmed by all the responsibility and stimulus. I know I go into 'shut-down' mode after a period of overdoing things ….......and that's 8 years on, with no one but myself to attend to !

Keeping children amused indoors whilst seeing to the endless household/cooking/caring/……...how do you manage with shopping ? …..must be exhausting !

I'd be indulging (after kid's bedtime) in every/any possible relaxation and pampering and making space for a break during the day by sitting the children in front of a video whilst resting nearby.

Wish I had more useful suggestions m'love….. apart from keeping your brain well hydrated and getting as much quality sleep as family allows.

We're always here.....💐

Cat x

[Blithe9]

yes i do that a lot... my concussions gave me an actual sleep disorder, which was eventually diagnosed as a separate issue.. i think that something like 50% of sleep disorders begin with a concussive head injury, its a very large percentage... i have the zombie thing a lot, mainly from fatigue... where im just sitting staring at the wall and theres nothing going on. theres nothing in my mind. i dont have any coping tips on this at all........ its been 35 years since the injury and i will be honest, there is nothing that helps this for me besides not being fatigued. theres nothing i can do about it.. i cant push through it, its disabling... it took about 15 years to get disabling enough that i saw an actual sleep specialist.. they gave me medicine that helped like the first day.

if it continues honestly i might try a sleep specialist, because they may have something that will actually help you, or at least rule it out.. gp's dont know -anything- about that kind of thing. if its fatigue, esp if its anyway related to your injuries, honestly ive never found any other way of coping except just getting the rest... its so hard with little ones.

you sound like you have a lot on your plate for sure. one thing ive done is micro nap. i did this at work a lot. honestly just sat there and 'slept' at my desk between phone calls and nobody ever noticed. you can kind of sleep while youre awake if you practice a bit, i know people who can 'sleep' on their feet when they were in training in the army. but thats not really 'coping' tips. micro naps did help but you have to have a little uninterrupted time for them which is tough with kids. wishing you the best, i do know the feeling i wish i knew more coping tips than just getting some sleep but thats all thats ever worked for me. the micronaps can help if you can figure them out. its a little bit like meditating i guess. it might also be some type of 'absence' siezure.. if they keep bothering you, esp if you cant get help with your kids, dont put up with it see a specialist... i wish i saw a dr years before i did. my gp gave me so much stupid advice for years until i finally saw a neurologist who knew what he was doing. bleh. hope some other people have something more to add. :}