Brain Injury and PTSD Resources-Car Accident Recovery

[sopranoA]

I'm a TBI and PTSD, chronic pain accident survivor and wanted to share resources with others here that I've found helpful. Two private groups on facebook I'm in that are really good. One is by a renowned trauma psychologist-Dr. Zender with focus on recovery tips and support for car accident survivors with a TBI or PTSD called recovering from your car accident and the other is car accident survivors support group. I've also used Headway helpline a lot over the years and they are amazing! It helps so much to connect with other survivors that understand what you are going through or people that just care and listen

[Emeraldgal]

I have TBI with ptsd and suffer dreadful anxiety attacks on a daily basis but no longer use Facebook as too much negativity on that site that added to my stress. Is there a separate group without using FB, as it puts me off having to activate it again 🥺

[sopranoA in reply to Emeraldgal]

I'm so sorry you suffer with PTSD and anxiety attacks too I try to limit my time on social media as well and can't watch violent films or upsetting car scenes. I don't think there's a separate group but I know Dr. Zender has a great blog on PTSD and TBI called The New Normal on Psychology Today that you might find useful healing tips on. Wishing you well in your recovery

[Angostura]

I’m so sorry that you have had to suffer from a tbi and a car accident, but so grateful for your having posted these groups which I’ve now asked to join. I am two years into PTSD and PCS from a car accident (My car hit by a drunk driver). I am very lucky to have lots of neuro help from the insurance company but I am still struggling to resolve the conflict between staying in soothe mode, to avoid vestibular system kicking off, and my need to acknowledge My suppressed emotions regarding the Effect of the accident and the associated trauma. How does one allow oneself to “feel‘ without falling apart?

[sopranoA in reply to Angostura]

Thank you It always helps to know that I'm not alone. I'm so sorry to hear about your accident I'm glad you have some good neuro help. Have you seen an ENT for vestibular issues? They may be able to recommend some exercises that might help. With processing the trauma and emotions, have you started psychotherapy yet? I had two amazing therapists help me through so many overwhelming emotions in a way that I could handle, bit by bit. And trust in your body, your soul and your heart/mind's healing ability. Journaling can be helpful! And support groups and places you can just talk about what you're feeling with others so you can release your emotions. I know it's challenging and hard not to feel like you're drowning in the scary feelings sometimes, but it can and does get better when you slowly let out what you're feeling, a little at time. Especially helpful when you have an experienced therapist to help you through the process Sending virtual hugs and recovery well wishes

[Painting-girl in reply to sopranoA]

Hi sopranoA,

Is a hormone check normal here now after PTSD/ TBI - or is it still not looked at?

lifeextension.com/magazine/...

I found this article linked to Dr Zender's blog.

[sopranoA in reply to Painting-girl]

It's still not the normal protocol and seems to vary by country. Sounds like it's on the radar in Canada. In the UK, my endocrinologist found abnormal bloods and speculated the cause as my brain injury and sent me back to neurology. My neurologist only seemed concerned about whether there was a pituitary tumor and it seemed felt that even if my endocrine system was out of balance due to the TBI, the treatment from his perspective was the same...neuropsych and psych. Not the most helpful really! Now, it makes complete sense to me that a TBI can affect so many systems in the body. However, in the first few years after my injury, I had a lot of difficulty processing info. If only I knew then what I know now!

[Painting-girl in reply to sopranoA]

Yes, everything hits when you are least able to handle it, and it seems to a be a bit of a lottery to get in front of the right people - know that one! Part of my referral from neurologist no.2 was to a physio who specialises in concussion injuries - he said he started down that track when he saw so many sports people messed up by head injuries. Apart from the vestibular and oculomotor stuff, and neck manipulation, he put me on the Buffalo treadmill exercise regime that Leddy does research on in the States - based on pushing up your heart rate in (very) slow stages to your own max. Have you come across this in your researches? It's supposed to reset the autonomic system.

[sopranoA in reply to Painting-girl]

I haven't heard of that! Sounds really interesting!! Has it helped? I did read that cardio can assist with TBI recovery starting a few months post-injury. I think because of the blood flow to the damaged areas. Have you ever tried cranio-sacral therapy? I loved that and found it helped, along with osteo for my neck injury.

I think one if the biggest challenges in brain injury recovery is trying to take control of your recovery and healing. All cognitive and detailed tasks are more difficult, yet we need our brains to work in order to heal them! Catch 22!

[Painting-girl in reply to sopranoA]

Hi sopranoA - sorry I thought I'd replied before ( though I am still losing posts and needing to rewrite them..)

You are soooo right about the Catch 22!

I've made this post a bit long, because you seem interested in different approaches, and I can only see info on this in the States and not the UK.

I think the cardio / anaerobic exercise did make a difference - but then I was very nearly up at my maximum heart rate ( 155 bpm!) but was then falling between the need to do cardio and to find my baseline level for fatigue - which I got a bit muddled up wth in lockdown, when I was more cut off from support. Wish I'd kept it up now, with the benefit of hindsight - but I was too nervous to push myself to the max heart rate at home ( alone) on my crosstrainer rather than at the gym - thought I would rather be around someone who could call an ambulance if I had a heart attack or something!

Blood flow must be part of it I suppose, and being fitter too. But the idea is to (very very gradually and under supervision) push your heart rate up to a level you can tolerate without triggering any post concussion symptoms, for a max of 20 minutes - until you can do this at your personal maximum rate. Apparently your pulse rate increase means there is more carbon dioxide in your bloodstream, and that allows your parasympathetic nervous system to 'reset itself' after a concussion. Apparently a key symptom of concussion / mtbi in sportspeople is the inability to exercise without triggering post concussion symptoms. (I'd be cautious about trying this without being monitored by someone who knew what they were doing though.)

The physio I was sent to by the neurologist was very analytical, and specialised in treating concussion (sports concussions originally). He broke down the causes of my different symptoms into oculomotor problems, vestibular problems, headaches caused by nerves in my neck, and this inability to exercise (I'd happily walked three miles a day on my commute before the concussion - and the Buffalo treadmill test he put me through triggered nausea and headache really quickly originally). So it all helped - the exercises for the oculomotor / vestibular exercises made it progressively easier to go into supermarkets and big shops for example, and to walk without feeling as if I was in an 'Ironman suit' which wasn't working properly ( which was how I explained it to myself!) Though I do still have more trouble in those environments than pre accident. I didn't get in front of this particular physio until ten months after my TBI when I got referred to a new neurologist by the first one ( when I hadn't improved). He also did really unusual physio on my neck - it was fairly painful stuff, but he could prod a point at the base of my skull and trigger the right frontal headache I had continually. There are some nerves in your neck that go straight to your hrain rather than via the spinal cord apparently.

I haven't tried cranial osteopathy yet, I did all the physio and so on under the neurologist covered by my firm's medical insurance - was very lucky to have it in place, as I got a lot of help fairly quickly - my biggest problem now seems to be fatigue and some working memory and some dyspraxia type difficulties picked up by the neuropsychologist testing.

Hope that was interesting anyway!??

Jen X

[Painting-girl in reply to Angostura]

I think sopranoA has said it all in their post - my psychologist helps me enormously too, by helping me process everything - still a work in progress though 😊.

Take care, go gently

[Painting-girl]

Hi sopranoA - this is a link to an article by the Dr Zender ( in Psychology Today ) you referred to I think?

psychologytoday.com/us/blog...

Since you mentioned him, I've had a quick read around - thank you 😊

[sopranoA]

You're welcome