apathy, depression, anxiety - does it last long?

[Timotei0612]

I have all of these since my cycling accident which I’m linking to my TBI - I’ve had for nearly 3 months now and wondering if others have experience and if I just need to be patient and for how long? It’s affecting my sleep too.

[cat3]

Hi Timotei. . .

Can you tell us what diagnosis you were given in hospital ?

Brain injury, including concussion, can have lasting consequences so we tend to use the term 'adapt' rather than 'recover'.

Three months would be considered early days in terms of adjustment to the changes in mood and energy levels. Maybe phone the headway helpline and ask for their leaflets on brain injury, such as after-effects and coping mechanisms.

Perhaps the return to work was too soon ? I had an attitude of "I've survived, so time now to get back to normality". I underestimated the challenge and reached exhaustion point pretty quickly.

Only after joining Headway did I learn that only by pacing myself and respecting my limitations could I regain some quality of life. . .

Phone Headway tomorrow on freephone 0808 800 2244 and let us know how you get on. 😐

Good luck Timotei, Cat x

[Timotei0612 in reply to cat3]

thanks so much for your reply Cat.

The diagnosis when I was discharged from hospital wasn’t entirely clear to be honest but it might just have been my ability to absorb it. My discharge forms just reference a head injury and all the conversation was about concussion - I spent 5 days in hospital.

The CT head scans seem to indicate some contusion / haemorrhage on the left frontal lobe which could no longer be seen 24 hours later.

I have no memory of the accident or any events leading up to it and very little memory of my stay in hospital or getting home. I feel in a pretty bad place. I have community OT but nothing else currently. I’m privately arranging my own talking therapy and some Accupuncture to try and help with the sleep.

Tim x

[cat3 in reply to Timotei0612]

I also suffered frontal lobe damage from a spontaneous haemorrhage.

I remember feeling weird one morning at 1am and trying to reach the bedroom door ; then lying on the floor hearing voices of paramedics, and fighting to ask them to tell my son & daughter I loved them.

After that, it's a blank until a few weeks later in a hospital bed. I guess the brain's ability to 'record' events is temporarily out of action (retrograde amnesia).

Are you still persevering with work Tim ? Maybe you need to lower expectations and prioritize your welfare. Here's a link to Headway's article on Post Concussion Syndrome ;-

Concussion Long-Term Effects | Ongoing effects of concussion

See you later m'love, Cat x

ps, can't get link to work😵 . . . . .so maybe you can type it into Google !

[Timotei0612 in reply to cat3]

Thanks Cat

Yes, GP has diagnosed post concussion syndrome after me pointing out that I meet a few of the symptoms, but not all of them.

I got my GP to give me a fit note basically saying that I need to reduce hours. I’m my own worse enemy. As soon as I was well enough to return to work I did, no phased return or anything. I was determined to put myself to the test and prove I was the ‘old’ Tim still. I know I’m not and could have saved myself a lot of fatigue and despair by accepting this at the outset - I think I’ve been too scared to admit that I’m not quite the same person. And even more scared to face the realisation that I may never be. But I don’t want to sound over dramatic, many have it a lot worse than me.

Thanks for all the advice and kind words x

[cat3 in reply to Timotei0612]

It's a process Tim. Everyone here struggles, big time, with the idea of losing our old identities & talents ; basically feeling uncomfortable in our own skin.

First there's the "What the hell just happened ?" then the kickback of "We refuse to be beaten !" But when we fail to get back to where we were, the panic of how we'll ever get through this brings us to a really low point.

The key stage is when we take a step back and accept, but grieve, for our loss. It can be purging, and allow us respite from battling & overthinking . . . and hopefully the space for contemplation.

I guess the process is working when we can start patting ourselves on the back for what we have achieved, rather than lamenting stuff we haven't.

It's often a long process, and 3 months is early days. Try working with your new boundaries (with an slight push now & again). Fighting them only prolongs the process.

Take care Tim . . . . x

[skydivesurvivor]

as my brain rewires had loads of heartache, had counciling but brain wasn’t healed enough to handle it. 20 years on it was recommended to me but again wasn’t with it enough to recognise, only when would suddenly burst into tears in high street?!! Kidded myself that only had .5 of neuron, emotionally numb?! Was on some pill 30 years back after armed robbery. Made me reluctant to go down that road. Did & my god!! Sleep all night, don’t drink anymore!! Can laugh at my stupidity, rather than be frustrated!! Would even say life is good these days!!

[Forrest1512]

Hi Tim,

totally agree with everything cat has suggested - I have learned that knowledge really is power and should help you come to terms with some changes etc.

Also important to remember that just as everyone is different, so are the effects of a brain injury on each and every person.

My own experience with the NHS in particular wasn’t great and was actually told once that as soon as you can walk yourself out… that’s about it. Wasn’t offered ongoing support so am surprised with yours which is very good.

You’re very early days and please just be patient and go with the flow

[Graceissufficient]

I think you should see your gp and ask for a referral to a neurologist. I read that depression is common after concussion, and it should be taken seriously.

The results of concussion often appear slowly afterwards, like a bruise slowly coming to the surface.

Also research the possibility that your pituitary gland has been damaged, which can produce depression.

Many sources claim that Post Concussion Syndrome resolves in nearly every case after six months, but I think that's optimistic.

Don't push yourself.

[Nemo24]

They all go up and down for me. Depending on how my symptoms are and outside factors. These can be family, work or generally what's happening in news. So I try not to get too caught up with news. I'm lucky to have good family and friends who support me. Backed with help from my doctor, with low dose medication. Also used therapy sessions from NHS. One thing from things I've read here and through brain injury websites is there's no timescale really. Every injury is different. Reading up on effects and options is good as it gives something concrete.

[Trevor78]

I've had a lifetime of those symptoms. Had my TBI at 17 and am now retired at 64. It was, and still is, a daily battle but it could have been much worse. Hopefully you get over and/or adjust to those difficulties within a reasonable timeframe. You don't want that negativity hanging around if you can avoid it. Doctors will suggest drugs of some description. I've always refused those although I do use low dose diazepam very sparingly to ease such problems. Get out and about and be sociable as much as you can cope with.