Can’t seem to cope with any stress anymore

[Flosmum04]

Hi everyone. I was just wondering if anyone finds it impossible to cope with any stress at all after a BI? My permanent headache from the injury instantly gets worse if I feel any sort of pressure and I get all confused. It’s like I’ve totally lost my ability to process anything other than complete calm and my once strong protective emotional barriers have disappeared. Any one else feel like that? My BI was 6 months ago . Fell backwards and fractured my skull and got a large bleed.

[Kathykathy]

Yes me. Too. I'm not a stressy person but feel anxious about everything now. How much is. Brain injury and how much post traumatic stress I don't know. I do 2 meditations per day. Utilise any tips I read such as divert your brain by smelling an essential oil, making a c shape circle under eyebrow round outside of Eye three times on each eye, anything I read I have a go at, including hypnotherapy to try and talk to the sub conscious. It drives me crazy as it's just not me. One side of my brain keeps saying don't hurt me, please don't hurt me. It's been a. Long 7 years with so many roller coasters. I'm always fighting the inner gremlin don't go there, don't do that, leave me alone voice and constantly fight the fears to dig deep and over come with my real personality. Nearly dying, brain op, hospitalisations and. Body breakdown of so many functions and side effects, and 5 different operations and 2 still to go has made me anxious. But I keep fighting on and looking for peace in its many guises it's not easy. Hope you can find a set of workable ways

[Kirk5w7]

Hi, me too even 10 years on.My brain feels like it’s going to explode, it doesn’t of course.

With calm it passes.Kathykathy has good suggestions to help.

Jx

[cat3]

Like Kathy and Kirk .....me too ! But it's such early days for you still Flosmum, so be kind to yourself ; your worst enemy is the added stress and a vicious cycle. I hope, with more time, you'll learn coping strategies for managing stressful situations.

In the meantime do you have, or would you consider, medication to help you through the early months in gaining more confidence ? Cat x

[Jpdee75]

Hi it is still early days for you and the life changing trauma of a bi is enough to drive your stress and anxiety through the roof without the extra stresses of life put on top. I too have troubles with anxiety stress frustration and all that. I started guided meditation on YouTube some are good this can take time to hone skill. This may not be for you but I have learned a breathing technique at calms it’s simple basically slow down and deepen your breathing . Breathe in for 4/5 seconds hold for a couple and exhale for 8. Do this in a calm quiet place for 10mins. It’s said that this slowing of breath tells your body that it’s in a safe place. I’m no teacher it helps me . I tell my whole body to complete relax on exhale. Not sure if I’m helping hope you find a way of calming yourself

[Crazychickangel]

Me too and during the 1st year any sort of stress or upset would make me instantly vomit. Breathing exercises help me restore calm. We also identified things/people that would make me anxious or stressed and without sounding harsh, we removed them from my life.i had a rare brain infection, encephalitis 2 years ago and now have eplisey as a result and seizures increase when I'm tired or stressed too.

[Painting-girl]

Oh dear, yes, my neuropsychiatrist mentioned something like low ( nearer zero) tolerance of stress. I'm still not great, but I think there's a connection with lack of executive memory and difficulty making decisions. I write endless lists planning my day and week, and try and pace how much I do in a day, and try and avoid overload by breaking everything down into smaller tasks spread through the week, with daily lists to tick off ...