Depression and Anxiety Common Even Years After TBI

Hello i have had brain cancer and a brain anurism at 10yrs old and 16yrs old i have tramatic brain injury or tbi ever since i had my anurisym surgury. Whenever I get stressed to the max my body shuts down i have no appitite, my mouth is dry no matter how much liquid i consume, i have mood swings of anger and sadness. Its very had to just live just day by day. Im so jealous of everyone thats healthy because they have something i never did. Nobody in my family has struggled or had my problems because they have never been through anything like that. You are not alone

I too was bucked off a horse in 2004. I lost conciousness, had 7 broken ribs, broken collarbone, broken right wrist and broken bone in left hand. I woke up shortly later, knew all the questions I was asked. Had surgery on my wrist, both arms in cast, slept in a recliner for 6 weeks. Have had vertigo ever since. Did therapy for it. Didn't last. I thought I healed up pretty well all things considered. However As I age, I find my depression and anxiety worsening . . . can't stand loud noises, cry at the drop of a hat. I have been and am seeing counselors. Just found out, after several cognitive tests at my chiropractic session, I discover I have a disability in one area of these tests. My chiro is a concussion specialist . . . I have hope to get better, but feel so depressed finding out that my brain has been truly injured all these years. In addition, after the concussion, I had undiagnosed Lyme disease for 6 years as well, with crazy and scary symptoms. Am better now. But I feel so battered and sad. Wondering what is ahead for me.

I had a large olfactory groove meningioma the size of a tennis ball and a large cyst around it. I was mostly happy up till a few years before the tumor. It has since been removed (2017) but I have very bad depression and anxiety for no reason as well as feeling overwhelmed and anger (maybe rage) if too much stimulation. Wish the surgeons let me die.

In November 2008 I was a first semester sophomore in college and I was in a horrific car accident. I was t- boned on the passenger side by a mini van and I was driving a sedan. Luckily it was only me in the car, but the car crashed in on me and nearly broke every bone in the right side of my body including ribs, shoulder, ear, collar bone, skull. I have absolutely no memories of the accident or of much of the weeks/ months right before. I was in a coma for ten weeks and my road to “back to normal” was not easy. I am extremely fortunate to be here 11 1/2 years later and to say that since that horrible day, I graduated with my Bachelors degree and just graduated with my masters degree in social work. In terms of the anxiety, I can relate to pretty much everyone who commented on here. My anxiety is constant and it seems as though I constantly have a fear of death for me, for my parents, for my friends. Technically I know how to diagnose this, but when it’s your own fear or anxiety it’s hard to understand.

I believe there is a connection. I had tbi when I was 8 and 10 years old. Now I’m almost 50 and I’m suffering with debilitating anxiety and depression. I was able to function in society in between up until 2 yrs. ago. My drs. have me experiencing different meds. which I feel more of the side effects than relief. Had head scans done only to be told my brain looks like an old man.

In 2000 I was struck in the back of the head with a metal bar and knocked out cold for approximately 30 minutes. It was a completely random attack which occurred in the middle of a town high street with my attacker coming up behind me to strike me unaware.

Luckily I only suffered a broken nose and a heavy concussion but I was in and out of consciousness for the following 5-6 hours in hospital. I was 21 at the time so recovered fairly quickly but I definitely felt different afterwards. Its always been difficult to explain but I suffered terrible red mists in the weeks and months following the incident. One minute I would be sitting on the bus to work looking out of the window minding my own business and then I would come to in flushes of anger, with fists clenched and heart pounding. It was like having an explosively violent day dream which shocked me back into the room.

The mists faded after around 2 years becoming less and less frequent but my anxiety was on the rise and by 2005 I was having regular panic attacks and paranoid experiences which I had never had before. These have caused me a great deal of trauma and some depression in the years since and I always had the gut feeling that the attack was behind it all.

Has anyone else experienced the kind of red mists I described as a result of their head trauma? They were frightening at the time and although I haven't had a serious one for around 15 years, they have stayed with me as very unpleasant experiences.

Hi, was it a colloid cyst? I had surgery to remove a colloid cyst from the third ventricle of the brain in 2014 and I suffer from anxiety now and just am a different person overall. I don't know if it is the surgery or just growing older that changed me, but it seemed to happen right after surgery. Things felt very different. Is this how yours is too?

Hey Curt. Item for item, our stories are a pretty good match, or a pretty bad match. I'm still dealing with all of this stuff. I was t-boned on my bike by an SUV, texting, not much protection for me. I also was unconscious, I don't know for how long, I think maybe a minute or so, as the woman was screaming over me, "I killed him! I killed him!" I was 56, ahead of the curve for my age, in shape, dating a beautiful younger woman and my life changed that day... and that beautiful woman is my best friend now and is helping me through this to the best of her ability. Anyways, the fact is, she's typing for me these words, I'm relaxing in bed. I got hit. I got up. I told the lady she didn't kill me. I tried to make her feel okay. I went home like I was superman and the next day, I couldn't wipe my a**. Lots of pain and like you said, the depression sets in... I'm a performer so I lost some serious gigs, in fact I lost a whole rehearsing band situation. I wanted to reach out because your letter, your post, really describes to a T what I'm feeling. I was hit in early October 2018. If you ever need to reach out or you want to talk, I would really appreciate that. Hit me up on facebook under Jeaux Archambeault.

My brain injury was not traumatic, it was very planned. I had a brain tumor surgically removed from the 3rd ventricle, right in the center of my brain. The injury is not any less though. Since my surgery, I have had extreme difficulty with anxiety and depression. I can't sleep anymore without pharmaceutical help, but I am tired all the time.

I had a car accident on 10/22/18. Driver broad sided my pick up. Felt ok at the accident just a bit shaken up. Symptoms began approximately one week later. I just felt not well. This continued for 2 months and steadily progressed. I got an mri which revealed three herniated discs in my neck. I was dealing with constant pain and headaches which developed in to severe depression. I was able to get thru the depression but still struggle with daily anxiety. Anxiety has improved but am always comparing myself to pre injury. I continue to research to find hope for new treatment to help improve my condition. Worse part of all this is the inability to feel any sort of relaxation.

Go to a hormone dr...I went on T3 for my thyroid & made a world of difference.I paid out of pocket because it’s an all natural dr.

I had concussion after a fall of my horse, my helmet hit the ground on my right temple. I was in and out of knowing were I was for about an hour, I didn't attend hospital which I know I should have. Within weeks I started Panic Attacks and 6years later I am not getting any better.

At the age of about 8, a rusted steel a frame of an old swing set gave way and the heavy pipe fell and cracked me on top of the head. At 23 I had a high speed motorcycle accident and hit my head on the road...I was in and out of conciousness for hours. The same year I put my head thr6 the windshield of a car. I started having anxiety and panic attacks not long after . As I aged they became worse. I'm now 56 and no medicine seems to completely alleviate all the panic, anxiety or depression. Can this be related to my head injures so long ago ?

Volunteer at a hospital or church,Salvation army that the best medicine and it works. HELP OTHERS BBECAUSE IT WILL HELP YOU

It is so validating and helpful to read the posts.
I had a concussion and then 2 subdural hematomas.
I’ve gone back to work a few times and I keep ending up off because of anxiety and panic attacks and bad headaches .
Doctors are trying different medications and keep wanting me to go back to work and I feel like it’s so frustrating and scary to be at this point my life where I just don’t feel capable and in so much pain .
Hard to advocate for myself .

Hi - When I read what you wrote, I felt I could have written it myself- just 6 months later. I have not been able to work for the past month and not sure if I will be able to return, mostly due to a multitude of cognitive issues. I’ve been teaching for over 20 years, so this realization has been heartbreaking for me. I wondered what ended up happening with your situation. Sending hopeful thoughts & prayers.

This month is the 25 anniversary of my TBI. I understand your pain,
After all these years of Panic and
Anxiety, I can't handle it any longer either. I'm only 45 yrs old and I need to figure out how to retire early. My Brain can't handle Stress or conflict anymore. And
Workplace Drama is unbearable.

a lifetime of tbi.....i cant handle it any longer.....cant find the right kind of help....tired of going through the doctorial procedures....talk dosnt help.

Hi,
As I stated above, I was you at one time. Worked at a bank for 23 years and was a boss. I did get meningitis but was told no laying side affects. NOT TRUE! I did suffer the loss of my mother in law who was like my mother whom I lost at 11. I had a dyafunctional childhood but I can empathise very well. Sometimes too well lol but as I said earlier, once you accept things and move on slowly. Key word is SLOWLY. Make a positive list and put on your mirror. I am still useful! List what your good at. Don't say nothing! That's the negative self talk. Write F.E.A.R. The letters stand for F-alse E-evidence A-ppearing R-eal. That's the truth. Take small steps. Go to your mailbox and back. Next, force yourself to go into a store. Maybe just get a pk of gum but it's uncomfortable because you don't want to because your afraid. Afraid of what? It's in our heads. That's exactly where it is. To us it's real. If you don't, it will be harder and harder. I was at the point I drive down my road and shook so bad I had to come back to call off work and climb in bed. Clothes, shoes, coat on and all. I was at my worst. I do take a medication that after 7 trials, finally worked. I've been in your shoes. I actually found myself having a panic attack at work. I went into my bosses office and had to sit against the wall holding my knees to my chest. Talk about embarrassing. I was a professional but we are NOT born professionals, were born as a human being. No matter what face we put on, we feel and our minds are so fragile. I'm glad to be in a generation where finally the minds health is just as if not more important than the physical. Again, it isn't easy but try. You know hard work. You worked hard to become a teacher. You don't lose that. It's who you are! You try to not accept giving up and becoming a hermit. You have things aka gifts to give to a child. There are reading to a child programs. You are still needed and wanted. You just have to go see who's calling you and LISTEN!
Praying for you!

After my head injury my anxiety and depression are extreme and my hearing is worse

I know this was written a long time ago, but I wanted to reply anyway for others out there. You are describing what happened to my husband. I know TBI is different for everyone due to the type and severity of the injury as well as individual response.
However, what you described above is exactly what happened to my husband, who was a well respected PhD in academia. He ran several departments and had a business that took in @ $1M a year. Constantly busy with so many hats and articles written about him by various magazines. The sky was the limit. He had meningitis, and depression from it as well as memory issues he worked through and was deemed "all better". Five years after he was "well" depression worsened, cognitive issues became so bad he couldn't remember family members. Went on antidepressant after antidepressant. None worked but he tried to hide how bad it really was. Started closet drinking to get away from what was anguish. No one knew (he never drank his first 48 years of life, so no one even suspected). Finally, he couldn't hide the anguish and torment. Psychiatrists honestly didn't seem to know what to do. That was when the suicide attempts started. For about a year he was constantly thinking and eventually acting upon suicidal ideation (just to get it to stop). It was constant and I honestly wasn't sure that I wasn't torturing him by stopping him. I just had faith and knew he did and believed that suicide couldn't be an option. Went to a different state and the pyschiatrist there was shocked that no one had realized that he needed anti-psychotic med to make the antidepressant work. Within three days he was better than he had been in 3 years! The massive relief he felt was obvious. Fast forward 4 years and he is going to a wonderful TBI rehab facility called Brooks in Florida, seeing neurologists at Mayo Clinic and on medication to regrow brain cells. That said, the depression has never totally gone away so that he feels happy. He is working on that now and they are trying different combos to see what will work for him but it is not anything like before. His experience is that the symptoms seem to change over time.
For instance, he went through terrible paranoia, when on a med that they said had the potential to take it away in 36% of the patients and he was lucky. Hasn't come back. My point is, he felt so abnormal and alone and ashamed that he lost years of his life. If this is your experience, know that a normal person when they experience a TBI normally has trouble with a host of things and that it can get worse years after the injury. DON'T GIVE UP!!!! You need to find a really good neurologist, a psychiatrist that specialized in brain injury, and the right medication. There are so many out there it can feel hopeless but it only takes one good doctor prescribing one medication that helps to change your life.

In June I fell down my wooden stairs and was unconscious. I had bleeding in my temporal and occipital lobes. I am a teacher. It's been about 3 months since my fall and I am improving with my vision and my balance. I'm still struggling with anxiety and processing issues. But since I went back to work I've started getting panic attacks. I'm almost scared to go to work. I'm afraid that I'm going to end up never wanting to leave my house. I've always been a strong independent person and it scares me that I'm not that anymore. I recognize who I was and what I used to do and I want that back. I don't know what to do. I see a therapist and a doctor and they just keep telling me that I might have a new "normal" but I want to go back to me. I'm terrified.

I was in MVA end of June. No bleed, but sever concussion, totaled vehicle (not my fault). I was driving 50mph in the right lane hauling my horses, someone pulled out in front of us and i couldnt stop, it sent us into a ravine and turned my trailer over. Everyine survived, but i have not been the same since. Improving, but my job (which i was out for for 6 weeks) is very demanding and stressful (RN manager in emergency dept). I amnon limited duty right now but it is such a struggle to not have anxiety, anger, and headaches making me nauseous by noon everyday. Still not sleeping well even with meds. Cant exercise due to neck injuries. My team was very supportive, but not my leaders. I feel like they think its all in my head bc i walked away. But im not the same, i have short term memory issues now, anger, insecurity, and comprehension/processing issues. I know my performance is suffering. Not sure what to do. It feels like no one believes me that im not the same cognitively.

Just want everyone to know that you are not alone with this struggle. There appears to be a good amount of us on here. I know exactly how scary the feeling are when they come because I get all of them (anxiety, panic, depression, fear, feel like im going crazy, paranoia sometimes). Just remember that there will be better days. My symptoms usually come 1 - 2 weeks at a time, then about the same time where I'm better (but not normal). I have been to TBI support groups but have yet to find anyone around who understands these symptoms of TBI. I feel like we need to talk to each other. I'm willing to so reply to me if you would like to also. My story is as follows.

9 months ago I fell head first on the back of my head on a hardwood floor. I was knocked out for approx. 30 sec to 1 minute (according to witnesses) Went to ER and they stapled my head then said I did not have a concussion. I had memory loss up to next day. Since ER said I was ok I went back to work 8 hours later (law enforcement) and went back to my normal way of living (little sleep, a lot of physical activity, a lot of stress, etc.) About 2 months later had my first intense anxiety and panic attack. Then 2 weeks of severe depression. I had no idea what was going on with me and I was so scared. I wanted to end my life but did not because of my faith in God and because I love my wife and children so much. So I have come to terms that I will probably never be the same again. With all that said, I know God will use this tragic life changing experience for good. He has always used the bad in my life for good. Just remember, God is always listening, so when your struggling just pray and try to go for a walk. Another good coping mechanism is small crafts such as pony beads and the similar. God bless all of you and I really hope to hear from somebody so we can have regular support conversations.

Hello there to all of you that struggle to get back to normal. I was hit by a car in 2002. Besides broken bones I had a fractured skull with 3 brain bleeds. The worst was in the frontal lobe. It changed my life forever but is manageable with meds. I lost all sense of taste and smell due to the nerves being torn in the frontal lobe. I take Lamictal. It’s the best without the side effects of many others and I’ve tried a bunch. That keeps my mood even and not so up and down. I also take klonopin when needed for anxiety and in social situations. I never had any mental issues until a Ford Explorer decided to run me over on an open road while I was getting some exercise on a bicycle in 2002 but with the meds “life goes on” just a little differently. If your not working with a professional, do so and get on some medication. There’s no shame in taking meds. I fought it , on and off for years thinking I could kick these feelings but honestly you need help from a little pill sometimes. My doctor suggests trying marijuana to replace the klonopin since New Jersey just legalized it and klonopin is addictive. I’m in favor of it not because I enjoyed it in the 60’s but because it has helpful benefits. So here I am a retired 67 year old guy with a brain injury that’s living a dream and I don’t mean living in a dream like state Get some professional help and a little meds and life is good. Stay healthy!!!!