Why Does Everything Seem So Surreal After Brain Injury?

Since 2006 and a brain injury I have experienced situations similar to the movie the adjustment bureau and star trek next generation parallels season 7 episode 11 almost as if I exist or experience a parallel reality. It now 12 years later and I have come to grips that what we consider life as linear is not what I experience. I would not wish this experience on any one I welcome my return back home one day.

About 3 months ago I suffered a concussion only about a month and a half after having another concussion. I'm 18 years old and have had 6 concussions in my life and 4 of those are in the past year and a half. The symptoms from the 5 previous concussions were all the same with a headache, some nausea, and maybe some dizziness. However, my last concussion was a lot different. As soon as I got hit in the head, I had a lot of ringing in my ears and had confusion and shortly after, the derealization began to start. I had very bad anxiety trying to dealing with this from that day until around 2 months later. I was desperately searching the internet searching for other people who had this feeling and if it would go away when I came upon this thread. Reading these comments made my anxiety so much worse because I was reading these stories about how their derealization hadn't gone away for years and were still dealing with it and I never thought I would return back to normal. I just want anyone that comes upon this thread with a similar story to mine or anyone with derealization to know that IT CAN go away. For me it took around 2 and a half months for it to really go away. The brain is a slow healing organ and it does not go away instantly like I was and I'm sure you are hoping for. It takes time. I know all you want to do is just stay and inside and not move or go anywhere but BELIEVE ME after a certain amount of time resting, go outside and do things. It's very scary I know because everything feels unreal or like a dream, but you have to do your best to try and push through it. The more you do this the better it's gonna help you. You CAN get better and I know it's very hard to believe that you will, but there are plenty or people out there including myself who have gotten better out there and returned to normal. And for the people who have commented on this thread and have had derealization for years, I have the upmost and tremendous respect for you. It feels like a nightmare every second of every single day and the fact that you all go out and live your lives or even if you don't is incredible. This was by far one of the hardest or the hardest thing I have ever gone through in my life both emotionally and physically. I know how difficult it is to really explain to people how it feels and it's impossible for someone to really understand how it feels unless they have gone through it themselves. So again, the fact that you all choose to go out and live your lives with this is ridiculously brave. I just want to help people that come to this thread understand that their lives aren't over and that there is hope. If anyone ever wants someone to talk to about this or how they are feeling feel free to email me at adam9129129@gmail.com. DONT LOSE HOPE.

I am writing a book, on my TBI, which led to anoxia and coma, and so much of my recovery was RECOVERING MY EGO. The ego, I've learned, is so important for us to function on this plane. It separates us from others, it gives us an identity, it's what kids don't have yet. And this funny feeling you're describing.....it might be like what I fett when awakening from coma and for years after - that I wasn't a separate me, I was connected to everything. (I was like a little child.) 

I can't wait to get my book out, the journals I kept during my 20 year recovery. RECOVERY OF MY EGO. In that was held my memories, my gut feelings, etc. It's like your brain work has to be connected a your person, in order to make it work for you. And that identity, is your precious ego. So many Eastern thinkers say get past your ego. Absolutely not! (but that's another discussion topic.)

I had 3 aneurysms, 2 CVAs/strokes, craniotomy and part cerebellum removal. I live this exactly. I felt so alone not hearing about anyone with these affects. I'm so sorry you all have gone through this as well.

Hope this helps someone. It can be very bad in the initial stages of recovery. In my first 3 conscience and remembered days, I seriously didn't believe I was in a real hospital even though I had significant physical injuries, as well as a serious concussion. I thought that someone was playing an elaborate practical joke on me, that the hospital room, nurses, doctors, and my physical injuries were all being faked somehow. If you have experienced anything like this after a concussion, you're not crazy. It was because of the brain injury.

If you read this, remember, you are not alone ¡¡¡¡¡¡

Yeah, is true the world and the reality change in seconds and violently, the only thing we can do is adapt to survive and maybe become in something better than we are before.

We are Survivors and extreme strong people that can charge this cross, we can with this.

Best regards from Chile. sorry for my poor English

Relief to have those feelings validated and know that others experience the exact same feelings! Fortunately, I no longer feel like I did when it seemed as though my head wasn't connected to the rest of me.

So well written. Many people dismiss the after days of a TBI as "nothing notable" because it takes time and reflection to notice that things have gone different.  

It is all too true. What is hard is surviving in a world that does not understand, validate and/or accommodate us. Society views 40 hour work week as the norm. Unless you work for yourself, it is difficult at best to find livable-wage employment that allows resting periods to make it through a day. No benefits or health insurance unless we buy them ourselves. Do we eat or have health insurance? Social Security Disability is denied to so many of us even with a lawyer. Many who do get SSD find it hard to make it on 800 month; many do not get much. It is like society does not even see us tho we exist. It's a hard world to survive and navigate on our own but many of us do somehow.

I don't know what I want to say; but I understand.

I have MS...mostly in my brain & this is exactly how I feel! Thank you do much for this....the MS Society has nothing on it and the only info I could find was about dissociative disorder (psychiatric). I know others with MS feel this well as well...what a Godsend this page is!

I can relate to some of this! TBI in 12-27-2007