TBI 101: Behavioral & Emotional Symptoms

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Please remember, we are not able to give medical or legal advice. If you have medical concerns, please consult your doctor. All posted comments are the views and opinions of the poster only.

Thank you. I am still recovering from a TBi that happened from a horse accident less than 2 months ago. Since the beginning I’ve had such issues with feeling overwhelmed with loss of physical and emotional control. It’s improving but I still have bad days. Occasionally, usually mornings, I feel nearly debilitated with frustration and crying for no apparent reason or way to help it. This post has reassured me that it’s not my fault and I’m not alone in this. Things will get better as healing continues and I’m so grateful to have a wonderful helpful husband.

I had a TBI (Coma) when I was 8 years old and have had multiple side effects from it. I currently have seizures and lack the ability of impulse control and various other side effects It has been struggle. I lost my job due to a seizure. I am positive I have CTE. Coping through life with a TBI is hard but not impossible. I many individuals that have provides support for me (Wife, family and Doctors)

I am so grateful for this information. My husband suffered a TBI before we met. This helps me understand as he is not willing to talk about how the brain damage effects him.

I am in the same situation. My 'now husband has a TBI before I met him. We have been together 10 years and Married 3. Every day is a challenge in one way or another.

This information is extremely helpful!! I had a stroke a few years ago (at age 41) and I haven't been able to figure out what was wrong with me me, until now!!!

I recently had a craniotomy and I can’t control my emotions and actions. No one believes me. I’m all over the place and I don’t know what to do

I'm not a doctor or care giver but I do have TBI and can relate to the feelings, frustrations, and experience you seem to be describing. I believed I was having a "breakdown" rather than suffering from a head injury. My loved ones told me to either "toughen up" or expressed their disappointment (those that stayed in touch). You are NOT weak or "nuts". I'm sure you have heard it but go to a doctor. Just having someone confirm what you already know inside will be a huge relief (it was for me). I'm inclined to ignore advice suggesting "professional help" as much as anyone but this is not the kind of thing that lends itself to that. If the person(s) in front of you can't help or don't understand move on to someone who does. Things get better.

I believe I am dealing with someone who has TBI and stand on the other side of this horrible life stealing / mind altering medical illness. My boyfriend has never told me that he had Head trauma years ago and that he might have TBI, but after 2 years of being with him in a relationship ...signs /symptoms got worse and it was very clear that something was not right...I thought I was having a nervous breakdown myself. The roller coaster of emotions/behavior/personality is taking it's toll on me. I see so many behaviors, language difficulties, mood swings, flat affects, the outbursts, poor judgments, impulsiveness, egocentric, risky behavior, and not too mention at times poor hygiene, etc. etc. It is not easy when you are in a relationship with someone like this especially if you are not aware of what is going on. Professional help is required because symptoms can get worse especially if the person with TBI turns to alcohol or substances abuse in order to mask the symptoms. Suicide becomes a enormous risk factor and if they experience more head trauma then than can lead to CTE.....Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is VERY VERY dangerous and can be fatal.
(See the story on Aaron Hernandez professional football player ) I believe he did murder someone but it was due to the CTE disorder and not pre-meditated. It/He might have been triggered and impulsive which led to bad decisions. See help. I am dealing with a person who has yet to tell me if he does indeed have TBI , and I am no doctor or professional in any medicine field but I know what I see and observed enough over a two year span to know that TBI can be extreme and lead someone to turn to drugs or alcohol abuse ----even sexual behavior that can be life threatening to the person with TBI or even their partner. I thought I was dealing with someone who had multiple personality at times, bi polar, or perhaps even a demonic spirit but after reading many articles and stories and observing first hand day in and day out with behaviors of my boyfriend I have come to the conclusion he has sever TBI and because he drinks alot and had more head trauma due to alcoholism and then im scared he has developed CTE and is in his first stages. Unless it is a Brain Tumor which is the only other thing i can think of. However It is tragically sad, but needs 24 hour monitoring and keen observation. Regardless seek help

I am also dealing with my spouse of only one year who suffered a tbi at 6 years old being hit by a car while riding his bike. When we met I didn’t notice any real issues. Right before we got married they started to surface. It has been hell ever since. Mood swings, paranoia, anger, anxiety, violence at times, depression, sleeping to much or up for days in a rage and suicidal, gambling. It is an emotional roller coaster for me and exhausting, I definitely feel like I’m losing my mind as well. I am strong in my faith but at times wonder why me God. He has also turned to god for help and we pray and read our bibles but when he gets something in his head nothing deters him and I get angry and let him know everything wrong which I knows makes things worse but he is relentless and will try to twist everything to negative and I just won’t agree. He drinks more often than when we met and abuses his adderall prescription which causes more anxiety rage and paranoia. Getting help is hard because they have to help themselves and do the work and he can’t commit or focus to remember or even prioritize dealing with this regularly. It took 3 months just to get an appointment with a neuropsychiatrist and the counseling with the psychologist is a start but not making much headway. He is a veteran as well, served in Iraq and Afghanistan which he should’ve never been allowed due to his brain injury, so add ptsd to his diagnosis. He attempted cognitive behavioral therapy but at the time due to covid the VA wasn’t doing any inpatient services so it was phone visits that he didn’t stick to because of our busy life and he didn’t want to miss out on family stuff due to the phone appointment. I am really struggling to deal with everything, I have a business and two teenage daughters and his 5year old son who all need my attention and he himself feels like a full time job. I now have anxiety from never knowing when he’s going to snap or find something wrong, I feel depressed and I’m not working out regularly like I always have because I’m exhausted from taking care of everything and worrying. I feel bad for all he’s been through and how he feels and I know he suffers and doesn’t want to feel and do what he does but I’m wearing down. My health I feel is in jeopardy as well. I just keep praying for strength for us both. Knowing I’m not the only one dealing with this is helpful! Thank you for sharing your experiences!

I am replying long after your post but it’s like reading about my own life with my son’s father. We have been separated for a year but I still try to stay in his corner. I recently wrote a paper about him for psychology. I decided to finish my RN after his experience. Hang in there....

26 years ago I survived a very violent attack from a stranger/intruder that left me in a coma for three and a half days. He kicked me repeatedly in the head, and I had over 400 bruises on my body. I wasn’t recognizable until 2 weeks after. He’s been out of prison for 12 years now, but I feel like I’m still in mine. So grateful to find this website and a community of people who can relate. Literally no one else in my family or social circles can relate. This site makes me feel far less alone/ashamed/helpless. Thank you all for sharing your stories and suggestions here. It really is a big help. All the best to all of you.

The invisible illness that no one can see so they are to shallow to see. I find that people with special needs get it. They understand what you're experiencing because they have been in our shoes for a lifetime.

18 years I also survived a very violent crime like yours. I still have nightmares, and of course that is part of PTSd. Last year I got a TBI at work. It is so difficult because with both things people can't see your injury. I've actually never met anyone else who has survived something as horrific. It never leaves you.
Much love, I know how lonely it is.

Praying for you! My husband was assaulted 6 months ago and was in a coma for about two weeks. He still can’t speak or use gestures but communicates in other ways...hugging, laughing. Its hard to accept that the person who did this is still out there, living their life as my husband and I struggle in out current situation. I quit my job to become his caretaker and I am up at all hours of the night checking on my husband. When I reach low points, I remind myself that God is in control and He will fix things. Sometimes we can’t understand His ways, but one day things will make sense again. Dont give up hope!

I was in a car accident when I was 16 yrs old. Collapsed lung, compound fracture to my femur, and a traumatic brain injury that left me in a coma for six days. Spent four months in hospital and another six months in at home rehab.

Life has been good to me as far as blessings are concerned. I am 100% fully functioning adult, a beautiful wife and kid, wonderful job (thankfully don't have to think too much at it) that enables me to live a have a pretty comfortable lifestyle. Here it is 26 years later and I'm still chugging along but have been thinking and looking into my future and what I can expect.

EVERY Seen websites showing life expectancy of TBI patients to be around 20 years, so I expect the lights to go out any day now, but also seen websites of people living a full life.

I have had and still have issues with every common behavioral and emotional problem listed above. I can 100% say without a doubt that every common emotional and behavioral problems listed above is something I have dealt with, and continue to deal with daily.

I am usually ashamed of my behavior after I get through my "funk" and look back at my actions, or see the stress that I have caused on my family due to my behavior. I am fortunate to have a wonderful wife, who teaches psychology and physiology, that has the patience and endurance to deal with me. I am forever grateful to her!

Sometimes it really hurts me to see her reactions to my f%^@ed up ways, and unfortunately, due to my lack on apathy and empathy, I am left standing there watching her hurt, yet all I do is just stand there watching. That destroys me inside. I wish I could turn the a**hole off, but I can't seem to flip that switch off.

Gotta get back to work. just wanted to reach out, vent. Be back later.

So I’m 22, I was in a bad car accident 4 years ago. I have a TBI Was in a (Coma). And I’m trying to figure out life with it. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with, because people don’t understand. I have long term/ short term memory loss. I have no feelings. I have anxiety, depression, PTSD, mood swings, and seizures. I don’t know how to control my good choices from my bad choices or to recognize the consequences in different actions. And for me people just don’t understand, they don’t understand my train of thought. Because each day is a new day to me. And I just want to be happy. But I don’t know how to overcome all of this and move on. People just expect it from me, while I’m just trying to make it to the next day.

I have an adult son now 30 and his TBI was 12 years ago. I took care of him the first 5 years and then he went to a rehabilitation facility, to help him become more self sufficient and independent. Unfortunately he was unable to finish the 9 month program, (due to his grandma dying, who he was very close to). He now lives in a CILA, he too has had all of these symptoms and issues. I am his guardian and his biggest supporter. It is so difficult for me, I have exhausted all ideas of staying one step ahead of him. He's tried working at workshops but they fire him because of his inappropriateness and following rules. All that is on his mind is drinking and smoking pot. Part of me feels bad for him because he will never have that hanging out with your buddies after a hard days work and having a cold one. I have drank beer with him on special occasions. But he is aware enough to know that's what men his age and his old friends would be/are doing before his accident and now he has his mom telling him at 30 he can't. He recently got him self a job hosting, he was there 4 weeks and got fired because he told a sexual joke. Not the first time this has happened. These are the things I find difficult for me and him to understand? He also hates the house he lives in and actually I'm not real impressed either. I live in Illinois and he has no outside help from the state like he should, how is he going to be able to ever live on his own if he has no goals and programs that he should be involved in?? Just wanted to vent!

Thank you for your post.. my son was in a car accident and has a TBI. As a result he suffers from epileptic seizures and is in the hospital for the 3rd time. He is impulsive and his emotional outbursts and lack of effect I didn’t realize was a real and true thing. This helps me to realize I need to practice so much more patience and love. Thanks again❤️

Thanks buddy....i hear u

WOW. That’s all I can say right now. I had almost the identical situation, at the exact same age (with the exception of the physical injuries.)I “absorbed ALL the impact thru my head, 90 some odd stitches, slept, unconscious? IDK for 3 days. LONG story short, here it is 28 years later with a wake of what I would call “destruction” in my life (behavioral issues, severe impulse control, substance abuse, almost EVERYTHING I have read that relates to TBI, frontal cortex, and I am astonished to see, finally, that possibly this hasn’t been just me “acting out”, “misbehaving”, or turning off the ass#*&! You describe in your post. No pun intended but it is “mind blowing” to learn of these symptoms in others. I guess without getting too involved in this, what would your advice be to someone you cared about, keeping in mind this was almost 30 years ago, what should my FIRST STEP be? I live in the northeast (Boston pretty much) if that helps, but as of this moment I’m so overwhelmed by what I’ve read in the past 16 hours or so, I don’t know what I should do first. I can relate to, have experienced, continue to experience, almost EVERY sign and symptom described by yourself and other research/ medical based symptoms of TBI , primarily frontal cortex. Like yourself I am pretty much a fully functioning, working, adult with probably 500 experiences I could list that indicate this as a cause. I can so relate to one moment being “fine and dandy” to an overwhelmed, confused, irresponsible person who sees it, but can’t “shut it off” as u described. I’ve been treated for everything from depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, substance abuse, primarily OxyContin in its day, and a host of others. Too much to list but who and what would your first actions be to begin to possibly have this treated (if possible) , aleviate some of the symptoms I’m sure u know well firsthand, to living a better life. Thank you

My 19 yr old son was in a horrific accident in May of this year. He was thrown from a rolling truck going at least 75-80 mph. Upon paramedics arrival he was unresponsive. He was flew to thee most worst hospital ever known to man. Besides the malpractice, and the disrespectful care that I had to watch my youngest son go through, he had 3 fractures in his skull, a broken collarbone and pelvic. His brain was shifted to the left, so there was bleeding in the brain. So for 5 weeks, we were stuck in this hospital that wasn't certified or qualified for his injuries, I don't know how I made it through that but I did. After the 5 weeks there, by the grace of God I somehow found a way to get him transferred to Where we live. A place where he should have been from day one of his accident. Since then he's been in 3 different facilities and now he's home with me, my patience are running short and thin. I know better to argue or yell back, its just so hard to deal with or cope with this different child of mine. I guess I'm asking for any advice on how to help both of us, to learn how to take steps on our actions towards each other. Or maybe just some technics or exercises to relax one another. He feels I'm being to protective of him, I feel like I'm just making sure it doesn't happen again. Dr.states that hes not ready to be on his own, but he thinks he is. I'm not recieving any help from any services or facilities with this matter. So, please any information is better than none..Thanx

Hello. sorry to hear of your situation. My bf suffered a TBI in August due to a motorcylce accident. It has been a rollercoaster for sure. I just wanted to reach out and see if you have hear of any state rehabilitative and assistive services? We live in Texas and here it was DARS program now just rehabiltative services provided through the workforce commission. Hopefully they can assist you with some resources. They may even help with family counseling. For methods of relaxation you might can look into and research on sensory integration or sensory processing disorders and treatment techniques or suggestions on calming . Pinterest and youtube are both great resources as well on those topics. I have also seen some similarities between Autism and TBI that both can provide good tips or strategies for you. Hope this helps out. Occupational and Speech therapy resources also on pinterest.

You can apply for him to get social security disability insurance under you or your husband’s social security number. Then he can get medical and educational help and you can get paid to be his caregiver.

If you are in a state that In Home Supportive Care and he is income qualified you should check with Social Services in your County. If the Dr states he cannot live on his own, then getting him/her to fill out forms should be easy. Just follow the steps. If you are not getting In Home care your insurance can help. Ask for everything!

hey please consult a doctor i had a TBI mild one which changed my personality but now i recovered do help him with a doctors advice. like mostly it will affect education

My fiance` had a TBI 20 years ago. When he gets into his "rages" the only way he makes himself feel better is by apologizing for being an "a**hole".
I understand how he lacks empathy (he also lost the ability to cry). It is very hard to deal with, at times I'm afraid to stay in the relationship (for my children). He has never been physically abusive but his "bits of rage" can be very frightening. He can get very vulgar in his language and slam doors - which my children are NOT used to. I am sorry for you all that your injuries have happened but I am glad to know that we are not alone in this.

My situation is similar. My boyfriend/fiancé/husband suffered a brain injury when he was younger. the accident makes him the person I love today. It pains me to see him suffer. He's a very smart man. There's no arguing with him but on occasion he breaks out in violent outbursts almost as though he wants everyone to suffer because he is suffering. We have split up several times and every time we get back together, however, the angry outbursts get worse, just like his mother warned me. I love him so much, that I keep him in my prayers. Currently we are separated because of his spontaneous angry outbursts that happen every 6 weeks to 3 months. That seems to be routine. Drinking, drugs, and some prescribed medication actually makes it worse. His mother is always right. He's punched me in the head to the point I lost conscience, he's strangled me, put his knee in my back, threatened me on more than one occasion spontaneously. Since I have met him, I feel obligated to care for him because I know he has a previous head injury. Now I have one too and I still need to see a Dr. about my neck injury from when he strangled me and tried to break my neck, The court system has given him a lot of chances because of his head injury.

I completely understand ..I have dated someone for two years now and I have experienced the same. It is very hard and draining. I love him but Im scared as well.

What or how do u make it work when kids are involved? I am going through sane thing you an Tammy above mentioned . I got a restraining order though bc it just wasn't getting better an I was scared if his violent aggressive behavior stealing lying outbursts ptsd lack of sleep more etc...

To Danae, you are not bipolar. I survived a very violent and abusive childhood. My sister told me a psychiatrist helped her. Because I moved a lot, I was seen by different psychiatrists, here are the different diagnoses I’ve received: depression, bipolar, PTSD, PTSD with recurrent depressive episodes,generalized anxiety disorder...now I’m back to bipolar “because your sister had it”. I’ve also been placed on medication with life-long side effects. NONE of this prepared me for the severe, unanticipated emotional roller coaster I have now after my TBI. CT and MRI negative for bleeding, must be no injury. In fact, I had a grade 3 concussion (does not show up on CT or MRI). I was told I needed to see the psychiatrist about my “bipolar disorder. NOPE, increasing drugs made it worse. Bipolar is episodes off depression, and episodes of mania. NOPE, since my TBI, I’m not bipolar, I’m mega polar; depression, anxiety, paranoia, hope, no motivation, insomnia, disturbance in smell and taste, anger, those are just the emotional part of TBI. It can change at any moment. What is hardest to deal with is people telling me I look just fine, i’m Crying inside and being shamed on the outside.

Boy do I get what you said here. I am 8 years in, and I am still a mess. No support whatsoever. Nobody wants to be a part of my life because of my emotional incontinence I have been labeled the drama queen. No more family or friends for me. :(

This has all been so helpful, I am trying to write a book about this and the article and the comments are really helping me see what it's like from an inside prospective. <3 It sounds difficult.

I can so relate to that, I have like 3 true friends, have lost my relationship with my mother and daughter which is all the family I have left

thank you for sharing your experience i learned alot about what i've undergone, i havent really had an overall formal medical consultation, just some, my resources are limited, right now i had a hard time working, only had 1CT Scan (the day of the event), 1 MRI only 10 years after, a consultation after 3 years from neuro, conclusion i still dont have the exact therapy or medication that i needed, all this made possible by friends and family, but everything else would be costly, its my fault though, because i havent researched enough on who to go to, life was very very difficult, mostly critizied at work, tardiness and all, had resigned from jobs i love, and now i am very helpless in making a living, but im trying and giving my best, i want to recover, i have dreams, i have plans, i
still cry it out, because we need to be sad sometimes, im very emotional right now because im not alone with this case, and i am thankful because im lucky to just have this case, others have had worse cases ,i had head trauma way back my elementary days, I was the smallest of the class, people always made fun of me, the tallest girl in our class carried me like a baby while she was spinning, i cried for her to stop, until she went out of balance and hit my head on the metal foot of the school's water tank, from that very moment i saw white light like crack on my vision, i kept vomiting, CT scan was difficult but i had to hold my vomit in, none was seen, no bleeding, no fracture, not even a bump, after the CT scan i signal for something to throw up, to their panic they handed me a trash can, only to find out it has holes and no plastic on it, it was hilarious, my humor for a 12 year old child, now i am 26, eversince that event my life changed, but i kept being strong and smiling all the time, i have been mostly laughing, i mostly wanted to be happy, but inside i feel so psychotic, yeah it would drive you nuts, sometimes im so down and crying, i have no idea why crazy was happening to me, at times i was so angry, at times i feel so lonely, i havent had the right professional help, i only had me to help myself for my crazy, still improving on everything, but giving it my best, well im sick as of the moment, got gastro and ENT Amoeba, side effect of the medicine is vertigo, 10 days, 3x a day, have 2 more tablet to go!!! gave my best not to puke, but imagine the hell i have to go through after 3-4 hours of taking it, well i must survive, i want to earn so badly even though i dont have a living right now, very lucky to have people close to me fund my needs, just kept praying and praying, i know the future is bright, and it ok to complain, it is ok to show im hurt and having a hard time, but i try my best to calm down and not have panic attacks, succeded yesterday drank hot water, focused my breathing, applied ointments, i sweat it out while on lotus position, no fan and all, after sweating i wiped it had a clean shirt, and rested, still no fan, would strive harder for me to get a massage and acunpunture, also yoga, and go to doctor for professional help, well thats when i can afford it, fighting for me! thank you for sharing and thank you for reading :)

I was violently attacked with a gun 5 years ago, and though m y attacker didn't pull the trigger, he hit me in the back of my head at least 5 times, leaving a clear mark of a gun busted open near my crown, and several smaller gashed behind my left ear. I had a ct scan that night that came back negative for a concussion, was stapled shut and sent home. After the event I went through visual black outs when moving from seated to standing positions, as well as some slurred speech according to some of the people who were around me in the following weeks. Over the years I have noticed almost all of the symptoms above, and I am starting to question if they are related to my injury. I can remember every detail as if it were happening though, and thinking about it gets me so emotional that I get headaches and physically worked up. Could these symptoms be a part of undiagnosed TBI?

Yes and from what you have described, it sounds like you have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Please look into a therapist as well as your Primary.

First of all thank you for addressing many unspoken we TBI patients experience on a daily basis at times they lead to actual true physical neuro melt downs. I am now 46 and at 28 (holistic, vegan, health nut to the core plus a daily five-mile runner) I suffered a misdiagnosed double aneurysm and a massive SAH. The one right temporal ruptured the second gargantuan left CVA/avm was clipped via craniotomy. My personality etc changed drastically my emotions intellect interests palet etc etc my headaches are intense on a daily basis. I try to lean on my family except their response is “your surgery was a long time ago and the more you focus telling us why you are tired or why you can’t remember or act erratic or tell anyone you had brain surgery you are just reliving it. You suffered physically but we suffered emotionally” Um I want to scream. I seek to move near the beach their reply? 20 minute drive is too far. I try my best at everything yet I hear I’m too slow I’m too moody and that’s not the surgery. Again screaming anyone? I’ve emailed them articles they don’t read it they do not attend my support groups etc. Stress kills me and this year I’m experiencing the loss of a 24 year relationship/18 year marriage with an extremely evil emotionally abusive man. It’s caused me to suffer a stress-induced seizure due to low sodium. My mother feels I need to look at others suffering and stop being so selfish. Um again I want to scream. How can I help them understand? How can I taper down my frustration?

My son is now 37 yrs of age but at the approximate age of 3-4 (as best remembered due to I, his mother, being a TBI survivor myself) at this very young age he fell at a baseball game from the stands and landed on the knob of an old door that was left on the ground just out in the open as I remember. He hit his bone (eye socket) right on edge of his eye. Fortunately, we were close to the local hospital. We brought him to the ER and they cleaned and stitched it up but I try thinking now if there are any signs of this accident that would imply he has TBI himself. He is well rounded but sometimes when he was a young boy and young teen, he had somewhat of a temper occasionally and he tends to now get a little agitated with certain ones of us sometimes. I am only wondering if there is any chance that he should or is it even possible that he be examined by a doctor to find out if there is any evident reason to believe he has TBI himself?

Thanks for any input and GOD BLESS.

Sandra, that's a tough one. I suffered many brain injuries growing up. More than I can remember. I now told 99.9% I have cte. Stage 3. Just within the last year, I'm starting to get agitated and have to really restrain myself so I don't go off. People are different. Some people are just easily aggravated or may have something against someone that triggers that behavior. I would try to figure out who he takes after. I take after my dad. We are both laid back and pick and choose our battles wisely. Honestly, I don't remember him even yelling much. I'm a little more aggressive now. This CTE didn't start yesterday. Another thing; today told may have Focal Neurologic Deficit. I looked it up. A lot of it fits. Different parts of the brain affect certain things. Look that up. They can give you info on what parts of the brain control certain things. You know where your son was hurt. Do some investigation. Could be that or just personality. Hope this helps

I was struck by a pick-up truck when I was 16, and I'm 27 now. I was released from hospital that night with cuts requiring about 7 stitches total on my face, various scrapes all over my body and a severe limp. I was sore for weeks, but because I was released so soon and because I was underage and my parents would have been given signs to watch for as opposed to me, I have no idea what the results of observation were. I just know my late teens were full of anxiety, stress, emotional outbursts, and risk-taking behaviour. But my childhood involved a lot of outbursts and meltdowns, and I didn't recognize my stress as an anxiety disorder. I just assumed I was a normal teenager.

I told my new doctor this morning that I got hit by a truck as a teen, and this was the first time I mentioned it. My family doctor at the time of my accident wasn't one I was close to or visited often and I don't know if I ever brought it up. Anyway, after describing the accident and whatever memories I have of that day and the following months (I don't remember much) she informed me I likely suffered a concussion. This was the first time I'd ever heard that. She also said at this point it's impossible to know. I do suffer from anxiety and depression, but as this was formally diagnosed sometime between the ages of 20 - 22, I can't say how long I've suffered from it or if it's related.

I have horrible problems with my memory, I have trouble forming fully coherent sentences verbally, often forget key words to make a point and struggle to find synonyms, or lost track of my sentence altogether and then as I try to remember I lose track of the whole conversation; but my written communication is very strong.

I have a lot of trouble with daily tasks like cooking, grocery shopping, making important decisions or prioritizing tasks. An example is trying to come up with a grocery list, which I often forget to do altogether or forget the list at home if I do write one. Without the list, I forget what I wanted to make (or didn't think about this at all) and get overwhelmed trying to decide what to buy. For this reason I often overspend or buy take-out. When I cook, I have to make things that are simple and that I make frequently (a simple stir fry or frozen food that you throw in the oven), or I have to help a roommate or friend cook and follow their directions. With school, I'm fortunate that I can take on;y 2 courses and still be considered a full-time student because of my disability (GAD and MDD), but even this can cause a lot of stress as I struggle to prioritize my readings and essays and what needs to be done first. I get really anxious when I try to look for work because in the past this has been too much and caused me to fall behind.

In sum, I'm still dealing with some apparently severe consequences of delayed diagnoses and if I do have a brain injury and if that is what has either caused or aggravated my anxiety and depression, I may have been able to treat it much sooner. I'll probably never really know at this point.

I guess my point here is advice: follow up with as much medical support as you can access after even a minor head injury. You may uncover other issues you have, and be able to treat them.

It’s hard to know with head injuries. Depends where the injury occurred on the head, and the force of impact. I came out of the hockey world where concussions are common. Typically a concussion doesn’t have life altering consequences. Now if there are say 3-4-5 concussions, the accumulative affect can add up. But one concussion isn’t likely to affect you unless it an injury whereby you were KO’d and have been in a coma.
But it’s really hard to know. If your behaviours and habits are noticeably different before head injury compared to after with multiple people verifying that, than you have an idea.

My symptoms showed up right away but I blamed it on stress. I was assaulted in the back of the head with a thick wooden door. I show all the signs that you are describing but the doctors are telling me I have bipolar. I do not know what to think?

Prior to my TBI (presumably falling off the stairs, if I’m honest, I can’t remember - amnesia?) because of horrifically bad childhood, I had been diagnosed

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