Traumatic Brain Injury / Concussion -- there is help
Dr. Laurie Cestnick offers neuropsychological, psychological, and educational assessment and treatment across CT and MA (as well as in Canada). She has almost 20 years experience assessing developmental and acquired conditions (ages 3 years to adult). She completed her Ph.D. in psychology at Macquarie University (Australia),... more
Traumatic Brain Injuries / Concussions – do not suffer alone.
Traumatic brain injuries are far too common in the United States with over 4 million people estimated to acquire one per year (likely far more due to under-reporting). Understanding the course of events after a TBI can help reduce stress, know what to look for, monitor symptoms, and prepare a course of action. Unlike broken bones, TBI’s are often not readily observable via imaging technologies and people can feel alone or misunderstood as they navigate the medical system to try to get help. The toll on the victim and family members is significant, and speaking with a doctor that understands the medical, psychological, and functional changes post TBI can help the victim as well as family members get through trying times. Each TBI and experiences thereafter are unique, but commonalities early on are headache, neck pain, sensory sensitivities, nausea, sleeping problems, and emotional dysregulation. Victims are usually dealing with added concerns related to bodily pains and inflammation beyond the TBI as well dependent upon the cause of the TBI, e.g. motor vehicle accidents often come with a host of added bodily concerns and psychological trauma.
The acute phase of TBI/concussion is approximately 3 weeks. Give yourself this time to heal and know the brain needs time and rest to heal as it does not happen over night. If symptoms persist beyond 3 months, this is the post concussive phase, and it is important to be patient and receive psychological services with a neuropsychologist familiar with TBI/concussion. Mood concerns can often worsen in cases where the symptoms persist for longer periods of time as people grow impatient and hold feelings of uncertainty or hopelessness wanting their lives to “go back to how they were” before the incident.
Common co-morbidities with TBI/concussion are PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), Somatic Symptom Disorder (becoming emotional/upset over the presence of bothering physical symptoms and pain), Adjustment Disorder (having a hard time adjusting to many losses and changes post incident), Specific Phobias related to the incident that caused the TBI such as a fear of driving or other, and other anxiety or mood related concerns. More serious TBIs can come with changes to personality that can be very difficult on the family members of the victim who feel a sense of loss that can grow to be significant if the personality changes persist. The number of relationships that break down after a TBI/concussion is startling and so it is important to be aware of this, learn of the reasons for this, and try to counter and prepare for these to give your relationship/family the best chance for success.
It is important to know that you are not alone and that there is help for the victim and family members to navigate through all of the struggles and changes. Having neuropsychological testing completed around the 3rd month mark post TBI/concussion is a good idea, and annually thereafter is also a good idea. If a prior neuropsychological assessment had been conducted pre-incident, it can serve as an excellent marker for changes that may have occurred. Testing tools exist that allow us to gauge premorbid cognitive functioning (cognitive/learning abilities pre-incident) as well. Assessments can help you monitor the changes over time. In fact, whether you have or have not had a TBI, a neuropsychological assessment is always a good idea to have baseline for comparative purposes should something lead to a ‘change’ later in life, be that a TBI, neurodegenerative condition, or anything else. If you have children involved in fast moving or aggressive sports, having a baseline of functioning can be helpful later in life and certainly is helpful in the event of documenting changes for legal purposes as well.
If you are struggling to learn in school or on the job, or just feel "foggy", a few tips: (1) cardio exercise for 20-30 minutes prior to most learning to get blood flowing the brain, (2) take breaks from learning and exercise briefly before you start again, (3) high protein, vegetable, and healthy fat diets preferably with MCT (medium chain triglycerides) and low sugar, (4) plenty of sleep and get help to sleep if necessary as it is dire for brain functioning, (5) drink plenty of water, and (6) speak with a neuropsychologist for more suggestions unique to your case. Monitor the impact of medications on your brain functioning and/or ask family members to make note of changes they may see associated with these and/or times of day you may be more forgetful or 'other' variables possibly associated with cognitive changes (such as stress or sleep or diet).
Should you or a loved one have suffered a TBI/concussion or multiple smaller concussions, consider a neuropsychological assessment, or minimally, a consultation with a neuropsychologist familiar with these things for guidance and assistance with symptoms and moving forward. Do not suffer in silence, there is help for victims and families.
Dr. Laurie Cestnick
