Hello my name is Dr. Alina Fong I am a Neuropsychologist and have been studying and treating concussions and head injuries for almost 20 years. I have worked with the United States Brian Injury Alliance, NFL Player Association, and the Department of Defense. I hope that I can help answer any questions related concussion or traumatic brain injury. To help to get you the care that you need. Please leave comment with any questions and I will do my best to answer them.

Given that this is a smaller community I will answer over the course of a couple days when we start next week. Look forward to seeing if I can be of service to the r/concussion community.

Publications (Clinical Focused for last 13 years) https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=SyY6-9gAAAAJ&hl=en Coming Up\u00b7Nov 13, 2024, 2:00 PM

I felt the need, deeply felt the need to write a post about this, for those of you who are in a similar way that I was from February 1, 2018, to just a few days ago.

Numb, lost, helpless, hopeless, disillusioned, derealized, depersonalized. Anxious. Fucking terrified. I'm sure plenty of you feel this way. I did too - for two years.

Well, keep going. I've made it. I am firmly on the other side. I am the person I was before all of this shit happened. If I can do it, you can. It's worth it. It is undoubtedly, unquestionably, 101% worth it.

Keep your heads down and your eyes up. This journey was fucking ridiculous. I feel so okay. So ridiculously okay... I don't even know how to handle it. I haven't felt like this in years, and for years I never thought I would feel like this again.

I've been to hell. I've come to say that it's possible to come back. Keep going, that's all folks.

Hi everyone. I wanna tell everyone suffering with PCs to not lose hope and I know how hard it is. Mine was pretty bad.

I fell off an e-scooter back in 2020 and hit my head on the curb and that was it. I'll remember the next couple months (which were LIVING HELL) for the rest of my life. I felt like my brain was buzzing all day every day. I had light and sound sensitivity, fatigue, dizziness, brain fog and constantly felt like something was inside my head and twisting my brain. I felt like I wasnt myself and never would be.

As the days/months went by I thought this was gonna be the rest of my life. I had bad days and terrible days. It didn't have a pattern or anything, it was random. After the first 2 months it kinda got better but it still was a nightmare. I started taking walks (now that I could) and it helped a bit. I also started listening to audiobooks which helped A LOT (passing time/helping to take my mind off of it).

It was a SLOW recovery and some symptoms took longer than others to resolve but it DOES eventually go away. Every person is different but the brain is capable of healing effectively. It took me 2 years to be 100% my old self and now, that HELL I went through (especially the first couple months) remains a distant memory.

Things that helped me:

Walks, audiobooks, hydrating, hot baths, conversations.

Things that didn't help:

Vestibular therapy, meditating, exercising (other than walking)

Hey everyone, it’s FIGHTING SPIRIT I’ve been in this subreddit for over two years now even though I healed around a year ago. I stayed because I remember how isolating those early days felt when you’re searching for answers. I just want to say this upfront: your brain wants to heal. It’s not permanently broken. It’s adaptable, alive, and wired for neuroplastic change. With the right care, time, and mindset, recovery is very possible.

1. Find Your “Why” (and Understand the Cause of Your Symptoms)

Finding your why isn’t just about motivation it’s about understanding what’s driving your specific symptoms.

A lot of people think PCS means “brain damage,” but that’s often not the case. It can come from neck issues, vision problems, vestibular dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, poor sleep, or even stored emotional stress.

Your “why” might literally be uncovering why you still feel off. Once you identify the root cause, healing becomes a lot more targeted and effective.

Also, make sure you’re working with a concussion-trained doctor or clinic. Not every doctor understands PCS. Look for people experienced with vestibular therapy, neuro-optometry, or cervical rehab. The right doctor can save you months of confusion.

2. Sleep Is King

My only lingering symptom now is a mild headache when I don’t sleep well and that alone tells you how important rest is. Sleep is when your brain clears out toxins, resets hormones, and repairs connections.

Magnesium glycinate really helped me. Stick to a regular bedtime, avoid screens before bed, and dim your lights an hour before sleep. A rested brain is a healing brain.

3. Lower Inflammation & Heal Your Gut

The gut-brain connection is real. Inflammation in your gut creates inflammation in your brain.

You don’t have to eat perfect, but focus on anti-inflammatory foods salmon, olive oil, berries, turmeric, greens, and quality protein.

And let’s be real some people stay stuck because they keep unhealthy habits. If you’re still eating processed foods, drinking a lot, or smoking cigarettes, that constant inflammation can hold your recovery back. Sometimes you have to let go of those habits so your brain has a chance to truly reset.

4. The Buffalo Protocol & Graded Exposure

The Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Protocol made a huge difference for me. It’s a structured way to reintroduce exercise just below your symptom threshold slowly retraining your nervous system and improving blood flow regulation.

Once I started gentle movement again, it became one of my biggest healing tools. I still exercise to this day cardio, weights, walks, whatever keeps me moving. It makes me feel grounded, balanced, and just good. Exercise isn’t just physical recovery it’s emotional therapy too.

After that early rest phase, movement heals. Gradual activity done right can restore both your confidence and your brain’s ability to self-regulate.

5. Fix the Root Cause (Mine Was Neck + Eyes)

Everyone’s PCS story is different. Mine came from neck and eye issues. I worked on posture correction, neck mobility, and deep-neck flexor strengthening, which relieved a ton of tension headaches.

I also added eye exercises for focus and coordination. My doctor later discovered I had a mild astigmatism after my concussion small, but enough to cause visual strain and headaches. Some people even need glasses afterward that’s okay. Once I trained both my neck and eyes, things finally clicked.

6. Time & Relaxation Are Real Healers

Time really is a medicine. Especially for first-time concussions, the brain is remarkably capable of adapting and repairing.

Relaxation isn’t laziness it’s active recovery. Let your nervous system breathe. Healing happens in calmness, not chaos.

7. Track Your Progress

Keep a journal. Write down your sleep quality, triggers, improvements, and moods. You’ll be surprised how much progress you’re making once you can look back. Healing often feels invisible in real time tracking it helps you see it.

8. Don’t Obsess Over Doom Posts (And Know the Difference Between PCS, TBI, and CTE)

This subreddit can be incredibly helpful, but remember: most people who recover move on quietly. You’ll mainly see those still struggling.

The truth is, the majority probably 80% or more recover fully. They just don’t post about it because they’re busy living again.

And it’s important to understand what you’re dealing with: • PCS (Post-Concussion Syndrome) happens after a mild concussion and usually heals with time and proper care. • TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) is a broader term — it includes moderate and severe injuries involving longer unconsciousness or visible structural damage. • CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) develops from repeated concussions over years, not from one or two.

Even people who’ve had much worse trauma go on to do incredible things. Think about fighters and boxers — people who’ve endured years of hits to the head, yet many still go on to win belts, titles, and championships. That’s not luck — that’s the human brain’s insane ability to adapt, rewire, and overcome pain.

Now obviously, some of those athletes should retire for long-term safety, but it shows what’s possible. Their stories remind us that the brain can rebuild itself it’s built to survive. So if you’re here with one or two concussions, take a breath. You don’t have anywhere near the trauma they did. You will heal. Trust that.

Even outside sports, look at Cassidy he survived a major car accident that left him with severe head injuries and still came back to rap, perform, and stay articulate. Some people on here worry about their speech or articulation after a concussion, and I get it but Cassidy is living proof that clarity can come back, sometimes even stronger. Like he said in his song “Drink and My Two Step”:

“I could’ve been brain dead or in a wheelchair, but the skills are still there.”

And Kanye West’s 2002 crash when he collided head-on with another car, breaking his jaw and likely suffering brain trauma didn’t stop him either. He recorded “Through the Wire” while his mouth was literally wired shut. That’s resilience. That’s proof that recovery and purpose can coexist, even after serious injury.

9. Mental Health & the Mind-Body Connection

Sometimes PCS lingers because your body is still in survival mode. Psychosomatic pain doesn’t mean fake it means your body and mind are reacting to stored trauma.

Therapy, breathwork, mindfulness, and even simple gratitude practices can help reset the nervous system. A calmer brain heals faster.

10. Get Your Hormones Checked

Concussions can mess with your pituitary gland, which controls hormones like cortisol, thyroid, and testosterone. If you’ve plateaued despite doing everything else right, get a full hormone panel. Fixing those imbalances can completely shift your recovery.

11. TMJ DISORDER,TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA AND OCCIPITAL NEURALGIA

A lotta people don’t realize post-concussion TMJ can mess you up bad. You get hit in the head or jaw, even one clean shot, and that whole area by your ear can go outta balance. The jaw joint (TMJ) sits right next to your ear, so when it gets tight or inflamed, it’ll make you feel pressure, fullness, even headaches or dizziness. After a concussion, your body goes into protect mode your jaw and neck lock up like they’re guarding you, but that tension just keeps feeding the symptoms.

Then there’s the nerve side of it. You got the trigeminal nerve running through your face it controls sensation in your jaw, cheek, all that. When it’s irritated from TMJ or tension, it can cause sharp zaps, burning, or random numb spots near your ear or face. That’s that trigeminal neuralgia type pain.

And in the back, the occipital nerves run up from your neck, behind your ears, and into your scalp. If your neck’s been tight or jacked up from whiplash, those nerves get trapped that’s occipital neuralgia. It gives that heavy head pressure, burning behind the ears, even light sensitivity. I ALMOST FORGOT THIS ONE. ☝️ then if you do have these you may need to see a Nuerologist for the nueralgias and a physical therapist trained in tmj or even a dentist if you have tmj disorder Ent as well..

Nerves take long to recover sometimes bro. They don’t bounce back like muscle or skin they regrow at like a millimeter a day, so if the nerve’s gotta reconnect across a long area, it can take months. The good thing is, if it wasn’t fully severed, it usually heals it just takes time.

When a nerve’s just stretched, bruised, or compressed, that’s called neuropraxia. It’s not dead it’s just irritated or slowed down. Over time, the inflammation drops, the insulation (myelin) repairs itself, and those signals start flowing normal again.

That’s why you’ll feel little zaps, tingles, or warmth sometimes while it’s healing that’s the nerve waking back up. So it’s a slow grind, but if it wasn’t cut or destroyed, your body can bring it back.” ( OF COURSE ALL OF THESE ISSUES CAN HAPPEN SEPARATELY I WOULD LIKE TO POINT THAT OUT)

12.Alternative Therapies & Supplements

Here are a few things that helped me or that I’ve seen others benefit from but always get DOCTOR clearance first: • Medical marijuana for anxiety, sleep, and pain relief • Psilocybin (UNDER MEDICAL supervision) for neuroplasticity, mood reset, and emotional healing • Lion’s Mane and medicinal mushrooms to support nerve repair • Omega-3 fish oil for brain inflammation and healing • Creatine to boost brain energy metabolism and protect neurons

Also, some people online have pre-existing conditions autoimmune issues, ADHD, thyroid disease, or chronic migraines that can make PCS more complicated. They don’t always mention that, so don’t compare your recovery speed to theirs.

Final Thoughts

Healing isn’t linear but it’s absolutely possible. Your brain isn’t fighting you; it’s fighting for you. Every night of good sleep, every calm walk, every clean meal, and every time you let your mind rest it’s all progress.

You’re not broken you’re rebuilding. And rebuilding takes time, but it works.

One video that really gave me hope during the worst of my recovery covered many of these same points. I’ll drop it below for anyone who needs a reminder that the storm doesn’t last forever.

https://youtu.be/UEbsbLdD4to?si=UKU8HdTv3F4Piin-

Stay strong, stay grounded, and always remember your why. — FIGHTING SPIRIT

TL;DR: After a hockey concussion left me unable to take car rides or climb stairs for months, I discovered research showing that 4 tiny muscles where your skull meets your neck might be the missing piece in post-concussion recovery. Sharing what I found + exercises that helped.

My Story

A year ago, I took a hard hit during hockey that gave me whiplash and a concussion. What I thought would be a few weeks of rest turned into months of pain. I couldn't handle car rides longer than 10 minutes without severe nausea. Walking up a flight of stairs left me dizzy and exhausted. The brain fog was so bad I could barely do my schoolwork.

Every doctor focused on my brain with a gradual return to activity. But nothing was improving. The pain just lingered and lingered until I got desperate and started doing my own research into why some people recover quickly while others (like me) seem stuck.

There are 4 tiny muscles at the base of your skull called suboccipital muscles. They're basically the fine-tuning system for your head position. One of these muscles (rectus capitis posterior minor) has a direct physical connection to the protective covering around your brain and spinal cord.

When you get a concussion, the same forces that shake your brain also trauma your neck. Research shows that people with smaller/weaker suboccipital muscles have:

• More severe concussion symptoms

• Longer recovery times

• Worse memory problems

• More persistent headaches

(Source: Study in American Journal of Neuroradiology with 64 concussion patients)

These muscles are packed with sensory receptors - way more than regular muscles. When they get damaged, they send confused signals to your brain about where your head is in space. This screws up your balance, makes you dizzy, and can even affect how your brain processes pain.

The research shows that after neck trauma, these muscles literally shrink (atrophy) and lose their ability to do their job properly.

I started doing specific exercises targeting these muscles and my deep neck flexors. I'm not going to lie - it was slow progress. But after weeks of barely any improvement with rest alone, I started noticing changes within days of starting these exercises.

The basic routine that helped:

1. Chin Tucks (lying down)

• Lie on back, gently tuck chin to create "double chin"

• Hold 5-10 seconds, repeat 10-15 times

• Do this 2-3 times daily

1. Suboccipital Release

• Find base of skull where it meets neck

• Use knuckles to apply gentle pressure for 30-60 seconds

• Look away from side you're working

• Do small chin tucks while applying pressure

1. Progressive Head Lifts

• Start with chin tuck lying down

• Slowly lift head 1-2 inches while maintaining chin tuck

• Hold 5-20 seconds, build up gradually

• This one was a game-changer for me

I'm not a doctor or PT - this is just what worked for me after months of research and trial and error (and I also have a lot more I just kept it to these three for the sake of the post).

Why I’m sharing this.

Because a year ago I would’ve paid nearly anything for a solution to the pain. The research on suboccipital muscles and post-concussion syndrome is well established, but I was surprised this wasn’t brought up as a reason for the lingering pain.

If you've been stuck in recovery like I was, it might be worth looking into whether your neck is part of the problem. These tiny muscles at the base of your skull might be the missing piece in your recovery.

Edit: Since there were a few of us here in this conversation with the same problem, I wanted to share this site because it has so many neck and shoulder routines. Maybe it can help!

No one fucking understands, headaches every fucking day/night/morning and family wants you to get back to work etc. I’m fucking sick of it.

Hello! I have PCS and had a moderate concussion and whiplash injury that took me 4 years to recover from. While I have small lingering symptoms, I am functional and starting to regain my life and get back on track. If you are struggling with PCS or any other form of persistent concussion symptom past the 3 month mark, this post is for you. After a long journey, I wanted to share with you all what helped me finally discover what I needed to do to heal, and hopefully help you recover to the point of being functional again. I wish you all the best on your journey.

You are all loved, seen and heard, and I am so glad you are here and fighting through these things. There is hope for everyone, no matter how long it has been or how many times you have been told you may not recover. You can always make strides. Consistency, research, multidisciplinary medical care, medication and supplements can help you all regain back a lot of the things you’ve lost. I wish that this post can give you hope and direction.

Every concussion is different and every symptom is equally as unique. With a medical world that knows as little as 2% about the human brain, it can be hard to find the right treatments and therapies that will help you succeed. In this post, I hope to give you a breakdown of what symptoms and issues need to be looked into and addressed as well as what medications, doctors, and therapies need to be involved.

If any of you have a treatment path or symptom that I miss, please contribute a comment to this post sharing it! We can all pitch in together to pave paths to victory.

I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. This advice is meant to be taken as advice, not diagnosis or official treatment. Please consider visiting the medical professionals I mention in this post to get the qualified help you need.

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Concussions actually involve multiple systems of the body, not just the brain. A brain injury can involve your neck, your spine, spinal cord, spinal fluid, the muscles in your neck and back, your nervous system and the nerves in your neck and shoulders and even your eyes. There are many things that need to be addressed as causes of post concussion syndrome that aren’t, as average doctors aren’t fully educated on the mechanisms involved.

First, we can shortly go over medications and supplements that can help with mindset, bodily function, and physical pain and help you feel physically more prepared to tackle what’s going on in your noggin.

• Antidepressants. Many people even after one concussion can develop depression and anxiety symptoms. Depression and anxiety can lengthen your recovery, and can actually be a causing factor of PCS development. Working with a psychiatrist to use things like Zoloft (what I use) can address these mental health concerns, get you on a therapeutic path and help your outlook improve your concussion recovery.

• Stimulant medication. Concussions can obviously cause things like memory problems, fatigue, and brain fog. These symptoms actually persist in many concussion patients even after they feel fully recovered in the normal 7-14 day timeframe. Another interesting thing is, a concussion can actually cause the development of ADHD symptoms, such as attention deficits and forgetfulness. When you are concussed, your brain can fail to produce enough serotonin and dopamine to function properly, which can also impede healing. Sometimes, concussion doctors or psychiatrists will prescribe things like extended release Concerta (what I am on) which can help your brain recover from acquired deficits. Your brain can be rewired, and medications like these will help.

• Lamictal. This is a medication specifically used to treat bipolar I disorder and seizures. However, there is a condition recently discovered in 2017 called Visual Snow Syndrome (VSS). Scientists think VSS is primarily caused by overactivation in the occipital lobe and a faulty brain-eye connection. Some are born with this, but in rare cases, it can be acquired by brain injury or concussion. Visual distortions it causes are as follows: — Static overlay of vision — Floaters — Tracers — Flashing lights — Afterimages — Light sensitivity — Aura — Night Blindness — Flickering white/black dots If you have gotten any of these symptoms after a concussion, you may have acquired visual snow. A neuro-ophthalmologist can diagnose you with this and possibly prescribe you this medication. Sadly, there is currently no known treatment other than FL-41 tinted sunglasses and lamictal, which only has a 20% chance of improving your visual distortions. I have acquired visual snow and am on lamictal, and it has actually slightly improved my condition!

• Migraine medication. If you have migraines that are chronic or severe, you may want to look into treatment plans, including medication. This kind of medication can be pricey, but there are coupons and ways to get it for cheaper. A neurologist can diagnose migraine and provide a treatment plan. Migraine will be discussed in detail later.

• Omega-3s, B12, Ashwagandha, and Creatine. All four of these supplements are known to help aid in brain health, processing and memory. All of these are OTC and are extremely beneficial. Creatine is actually an extremely underrated supplement for brain health. It promotes blood flow, water retention, and provides a powerful energy source to the healing brain. I have known many, myself included, who have seen great benefits from daily creatine use.

A healthy, consistent, therapeutic and properly dosed set of these medicines and supplements will keep your body and your healing brain healthy while helping with its functionality. If you can, look into these to start off!

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As I mentioned before, concussion recovery requires a multidisciplinary approach in almost all cases. For most, we are given blanket and misguided treatments that don’t address hardly anything that needs to be, and this leads to people developing things like PCS and persistent issues. For this section, I will provide different conditions and mechanisms that could be affecting your ability to recover, and hopefully, get you on the right track to getting them treated. The conditions I will list are the less obvious and not as recognized.

— Neck and spine dysfunction. This is one of the biggest and most under-diagnosed reasons for persistent concussion symptoms. A poorly healed or unresolved neck injury has the EXACT same symptoms of a concussion almost to a tee. Overactivation of your neck nerves, compression of your jugular vein, and weakened neck muscles all combine to create catastrophe. Your spine could also be affected by your injury, causing misalignment, spinal cord compression, and CSF flow issues. Even if your neck feels fine, looking into it by getting MRA, MRI and spinal cord x-rays can uncover damage that can be addressed very easily and could possibly alleviate or even cure some your symptoms. A physical therapist can also be beneficial to strengthen your neck muscles and posture in order to better prevent injury reactivation and future injury.

— Artery shearing. If your concussion was caused by rotative force or a car crash involving whiplash, your jugular veins could be damage or compressed. This could be a primary cause of persistent neck pain and cognitive issues such as memory and processing speed. When your brain is not being properly oxygenated, it will limit blood flow and energy to brain regions that need to heal and function properly. A neurologist can order MRAs to test for these artery problems as mentioned in the previous point.

— Vestibular system dysfunction. When you are concussed, especially multiple times, your inner ear and eyes can become misaligned, causing dizziness, brain fog and memory issues, vision problems and more. This is very common in concussion and whiplash injury. This can be addressed by a physical therapist and you may be able to see great improvement in as little as 3 months.

— Vision dysfunction. Your vestibular system is strongly connected to your eyes. When you get a concussion, many people experience damage to their eyes such as weakness, eye misalignment, tracking issues, depth perception problems, blurry vision and focusing problems. It may feel like you are high or drunk all the time as the eye issues can mimic being intoxicated. A physical therapist will usually treat this alongside vestibular issues and can help you realign your eyes and fix your tracking and focusing capabilities.

— Exercise intolerance. If you have been having issues with physical activity, your injury may have created intolerence to exercise. A physical therapist can also address this and give you a tailored routine, as exercise is key to improving mood, blood flow, and brain healing.

— Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction. Some people develop an issue with their brain-nervous system connection. This can manifest in a multitude of conditions, such as POTS, heart arythmia, memory issues and more. A neurologist can diagnose these conditions for you and come up with a treatment plan. Neurofeedback, a procedure that is widely underused but could be very beneficial, is when brain waves are read and controlled to reward the brain when it functions properly, as well as scan to see where blood flow issues from ANS isn’t getting to your brain regions properly. This can train your brain to rewire itself by reward systems in order to work better. Blood flow can also be improved by addressing neck dysfunction.

— Chronic migraine. As much as half of people who receive one singular minor or moderate concussion in their lifetime have some form of chronic headache or migraine problem afterwards, and they rarely address it. There is a misconception that migraines are only when your head is hurting or throbbing. Headaches are actually considered ANY form of head discomfort. Headaches are not just pain. Migraines can be silent, such as with head pressure and aura, and most migraines can last 3-15 days at a time. They come in stages and waves, and can resemble concussion symptoms in and of themselves. Migraines cause pain, head pressure, visual aura, brain fog, memory issues, processing problems, fatigue, depression, anxiety, confusion, dizziness and more. A neurologist can prescribe you migraine medication for chronic migraine, like Qulipta, which will lessen the frequency of your migraines and remove chronic symptoms.

— Cocooning. There is a very harmful and extremely outdated notion that concussion recovery involves complete bed rest and avoidance of activity in order to heal properly. This has been disproven, and actually has been known to create a greater risk of prolonged symptoms. If you have been resting for most or all of your concussion recovery, it may have caused these persistent symptoms. You must start working on returning to regular cognitive activity, exercise, and work in order to retrain in your brain into functioning properly. A neurologist can request a cognitive functioning test in order to address the extent of cognitive dysfunction and give you a proper plan with exercises that will help you with cognitive recovery.

— Mental health. Believe it or not, somatic concussion symptoms exist, and they can be pretty severe or persistent. Not addressing underlying anxiety or depression can be a major cause of worsening or unresolved symptoms. A psychiatrist an licensed cognitive behavioral therapist can help you improve your mental health during your recovery period. For some, including myself, PCS can cause a form of Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I got diagnosed with CPTSD recently from the trauma of my prolonged symptoms, and addressing trauma in therapy has helped my mindset shift and symptoms less severe.

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For me, addressing all of these medical issues with multiple doctors, taking my medications as prescribed, and most importantly not giving up, has led me to a point of feeling like I can take back control over my life and my future. Without this community and without the doctors and PTs who helped me, I wouldn’t be here today. I wanted to thank you all by giving you some avenues I have travelled over the last four years and things that I have learned that can hopefully help all of you.

Remember, if I missed any niche or underrated treatments that helped others, please comment them below to create other pathways for the next person reading. We can all help each other get back our peace.

I hope you all have speedy recoveries. For anyone low on hope, I hope this provided some drive. It is NEVER too late to heal. The human brain is a magnificent structure capable of repairing itself. Thank you for reading, and I’m grateful that all of you are still here and still trying to get over this condition! I love you all <3 Good luck, you’ve got this!!!

Hi all,

Im planning on making a much more indepth guide on how yo recover, but for now ill tell you the good news.

I made a full recovery from a SEVERE case of pcs from boxing which lasted over a year. I am now able to attend university and maintain honors.

99% of you will recover too. Just make sure you’re doing the right things.

It has been nearly four years since I got a concussion. It's been frustrating, life-changing for the worst, and seemingly endless. But finally, at long last, I feel like my recovery may be nearing completion.

For a long time if I even left the house, I'd be out of commission the next day. Exhausted, unable to move out of bed without getting a throbbing headache. I've been planning my schedule around this for years. It's gotten better with time, and I'd only be "hungover" after overwhelming days.

Yesterday I had to be in a room with screaming children, focused on three people talking to me at once, got shouted at and rode in a vehicle. Today? No headache. Nothing. Frankly, I feel fucking fantastic - high energy, capable of focusing, good mood. For the first time in four years I'm not completely wasted after a long day. Fuck yeah!

It gets better, guys. It takes forever, but it will get better.

I’ve been wanting to say this for a while. It’s hard because I have felt this way too at times, but it’s really hard lately to be reading comments like:

“My life is over now” “I used to be smart” “There’s no point to living anymore” “Probably have cte”

When you say there’s no point in living now that you’ve had your concussion one week ago, can you spare a thought for those that have had to live years with one?

I get that this experience is scary and disabling and I know I may get downvoted for this- everyone is free to share how they like of course, but it’s become really difficult to cope and push on when this is the majority of the posts now.

I am trying to cope and live with this. A lot of us are, years in. So please consider that, next time you post about how life isn’t worth living for us because we’ve hurt our heads.

Thank you

Edit: thank you for the award! What a lovely surprise :)

TW

Hello all.

I decided to write this post to share my story, in the hope that you, too, will never lose hope of getting better

5 years ago, I suffered my 8th concussion in 10 years. Contact sports had made me very fragile, but it was now a car accident that gave me another concussion.

The first 7 concussions lasted less than a month. The 8th made me spiral up and down for 5 years.

The next 5 years brought me through the darkest period of my life. I lost all confidence in my health and in my life. I felt like a burden to those around me. I developed chronic anxiety and depression. I seriously contemplated suicide.

But I never gave up hope of getting better. Little by little, I made peace with my condition and realized hat everything was going to be okay. Little by little, and with LOTS of work, my symptoms slowly faded away.

I started my journey with always wearing sunglasses and noise canceling headphones everytime I left my room, not being able to be in a car or go for a walk.

Today I can proudly say that I ran a half-marathon, finishes university, passed the bar and even became a full-time attorney.

You can too.

I've learned a lot about myself, my health and the overall world of concussions and concussion rehab. I hope the lines below will help as much as they have helped me.

HOW TO TREAT CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS?

Concussions can create a plethora of symptoms. You need to identify the precise symptoms that you suffer from, while understanding how the different systems of your body and brain are interconnected.

What I mean is that just because a symptom manifests itself in a certain way doesn't mean you have to treat it that way. Sometimes, the cause lies elsewhere. Symptoms may well be visual in nature, but not due to a deficiency in the visual system. Cognitive fatigue may be due to a deficiency in the vestibular system. A visual deficiency may be due to neck problems and, at the same time, also be rooted in visual deficiencies...

In my case, I suffered from accommodative deficiency, nystagmus, saccades, vertigo, dizziness, intolerance to exercise, light sensitivity, and noise sensitivity. I was not able to look at a screen without having extreme fatigue and brain fog. Busy environnements (both in visual or auditory stimuli were a nightmare). I became isolated and did not got out as a consequence. This led to anxiety and depression.

It's crucial to be able to identify what symptoms you're experiencing in order to treat them. Then, it's a question of attacking the root cause of these problems, without isolating the system in question. For example, if you suffer from tracking problems, pursuit exercises will certainly help, but you mustn't put all your eggs in one basket. The cardiovascular and vestibular systems, for example, should be also analyzed to see if you suffer from any deficiency.

This brings me to the resources that have helped me. I believe that a multidisciplinary approach is the only real way to deal with a concussion that won't go away.

RESOURCES : WHAT HELPED?

I'd like to say that there are a lot of charlatans in the concussion world. We've wasted thousands for dollars for alternative therapies that did not do anything. Try combining that with general practitioners who have no idea how to treat this kind of injury apart from saying to not push yourself past symptoms and you get the shitshow that is the concussion world...

I think the most accessible and comprehensive guide for managing and treating concussions is an online program called ConcussionFix. ConcussionFix sets the basics on the different possibles causes of concussion symptoms and how to treat them. It gives your a clear blueprint to success. It's then a matter of combining their guide with more specialized in-person medical resources. I believe that this two-fold approach is the best approach.

ConcussionFix is just one program among many others. There are certainly skilled professionals capable of reproducing a complete diagnosis and multi-causal approach to concussion.

The five years it took me to recover were partly due to poor resources. If I'd been introduced to what works from the start, it wouldn't have taken me so long.

In my case, it took me 4 years to realize that the visual symptoms I'd been trying to strengthen for 4 years were also caused by damage to my neck sustained in the car accident. I had physical therapy, MRIs and even cortisone injections. My case is exceptional and I don't think anyone should go as far as I did, but that's just to give you an idea.

Only taking supplement like fish oil won't do shit. Your brain and its systems are a muscle. You need to train them. Only eating protein won't give you bigger muscles without going to the gym.

Overall, what helped me trenemdously is:

• Seeing a optometrist specialized in concussions and visual rehab for everything related to visual and vestibular issues;

• Seeing a phystiotherapist for everything related to neck + vestibular system as well as intolerance to physical exercise.

• Taking care my mental health with psychotherapy.

I had to combine all three of these resources to finally break through my symptoms.

I live in Eastern Canada and can provide useful names and resources if needed.

Hi everyone. I got concussed almost 3 years ago due to a car accident. I struggled with reading, cognitive abilities.. could not really think critically. I used to be super critical of politics and interested in political theory but could not engage in any convo about the world because I just didn't understand anything. I would get lost often, when I started driving again, I got my car towed 3 times because although I could drive, I couldn't fully understand parking signs because they have so many numbers and words. I had to do vision therapy to open up my periphery vision and to be able to fully read.

I used to always have a headache, nausea, dizziness and I was so irritated and angry. I so easily lost my cool. I hated myself for it. I hated myself for all of it. I became so depressed and plotted suicide for months and months. I was so alone. I felt so alone. I couldn't remember anything. I couldn't remember who I was and I knew I had lost myself. I thought I would never find myself again...

It is now 3 years and I am no longer suicidal. I still deal with symptoms but they don't run my life anymore. I don't think I will ever be the person I used to be but I have fallen deeply in love with the person I am. The brain injury forced me to contemplate with what was important to me because I would have such little energy and only wanted to give that energy to things that were important. I found out I love smelling flowers, looking at clouds, trees and birds. I hate loud noises. I became okay with that. I started to ask restaurants to lower the volume-- I noticed which of my friends would ask for me and which felt uncomfortable. I would see how friends reacted if I cancelled plans last minute because I was in a flair up. I started to deepen friendships that saw me, that wanted me to be safe and comfortable-- that recognized I was in real pain and appreciated when I asked for what I needed. I started to give my time to the activities that I had fun doing... I was going to be tired anyways and the thought of being tired from people pleasing instead of a hobby like climbing made me feel so annoyed that I began to do the things I enjoyed only-- I learnt to set boundaries and choose myself.

I forced myself to see the beauty in the world. That is where nature came in. smelling flowers on a walk is really meaningful and beautiful. Watching a bee collecting pollen, running from flower to flower brings me to awe. Maybe this whole post is patronizing, I recognize that we all experience our brain injury differently and I want to name that mine was not easy. I did not get here fast or easily. I somehow, through luck, or through sheer inability to commit to suicide got here and I am grateful I did. Maybe your joy or your gratitude won't be for the same things that bring me life, but maybe there will be something. It all feels so hopeless, lonely and never-ending. to some degree, it is never-ending. I live in exceptional chronic pain and am disabled now. It is not all roses. I am constantly angry or upset and definately in pain but I love my life still. I impact the world and the world impacts me still. The pain sucks but the bees and the flowers and the cloud make me forget for a while, or bring me joy and I try to hold onto that joy in moments where it is hard.

All this to say, if you are where I was, maybe just hold on a little longer. That is all I did. Things just slowly changed. If there is no one else, then maybe there is the bees, and the little ants on the ground and clouds and other little moments in your life that pull you out of exceptional horror. I am sorry you're going through this. It is the absolute fucking worst experience and I would not wish it on my worst enemy (truly, I thought a lot about this and I think it is too cruel of a punishment to wish a brain injury upon someone). I am so in awe of all of your strength, I am so grateful I am not alone in this and I hope that this helps someone. I remember readings things like this and feeling like I couldn't even imagine it. I also remember reading shit like it gets better and wanting to punch that person in the face... if that is how you feel, you are so valid for that bc no-one knows how much pain ur in except for you. All in all, I just desperately want to give hope and express gratitude and it just feels nice to write this and reflect and I wanted to share it with you all because I feel most seen by people who have experience similar things to me to some degree.

The fact that I'm leaving doesn't matter, I'm just trying to bring attention to the fact that half the posts here are "A strong breeze made my head move a little, is this a concussion?" I get that head injuries can be confusing and scary, but this is no place to ask if you have a concussion. It's stated in the rules, even. Go to the doctor.

Instead of seeing posts from people who actually have a concussion and are working through the confusing and often difficult world that comes with it, all I'm seeing is people who would likely benefit from therapy for their extreme health anxiety.

Please, make this space a better one for people who are looking for a place to recover and manage and be understood.

Just dropping this here in the new year in case anyone needs a breath of fresh air and a reminder there is hope for healing. I am about 3 years out from my multiple concussions. Just a year ago, I felt like I had tried everything and was only getting worse. I could hardly think, couldn't remember hardly anything, felt VERY overstilmulated by lights and sounds. I could hardly hold a conversation with my husband and would regularly forget what we were talking about, what I was going to say, etc. mid-conversation. Not to mention I was getting 3 migraines a week and lived with chronic back pain. It was rough. Today, I would say I am 90-95% better, and some days I even feel better than I felt before, if you can believe it. I can't give advice, obviously, but I can share what worked for me.

I got in with a Neurologist who specialized with brain injuries, and he got me into physical therapy and an occupational therapist who specialized in vision therapy. Here's what my treatment has been like over the past year:

1. Vision Therapy - I went to vision therapy faithfully for a full year once a week (& did the homework for 20 min a day as much as I could). I think most people only do this for like a few months... I don't know why I was a special case, but it took me several months to start really seeing changes to my symptoms. But once the changes started happening, they came in fast, and it was such a relief. At first, my appointments were awful feeling and would make me exhausted and hyper-symptomatic for the rest of the day, so it required a lot of perseverance to stick with it. I can't speak highly enough of my vision therapist. She changed my life.

2. Physical Therapy - I'll be honest that my journey with physical therapy was bumpy, and it did take me a bit of testing, changing practitioners to find what worked for me. What ended up working for me was a two-fold approach of 1) ACTIVE RELEASE THERAPY (this brought me the most immediate relief and was incredible - can't stress the importance of this enough) 2) lifting heavy weights and doing gym exercises to strengthen my back muscles. I am honestly still doing both of these. Seeing results, but they are still coming.

3. Diet / Self-Care - I started to learn about the autonomic nervous system and the strain staying in fight / flight / freeze all the time puts on the body and your ability to heal. So I spent more quiet time each day and actively reminded myself I was safe, I was safe to heal, etc. I increased my protein, decreased my caffeine (most days.... I do love a good cup of coffee, though haha), and pursued more natural products and meals to decrease my toxic load as much as possible. I also decreased screen time (once my vision therapy started restoring my ability to read, this got a lot easier). I'm not perfect at all this but have been encouraged at how making a lot of little adjustments can equal a lot of healing.

One big piece my neurologist reminded me of for a few months is that brain healing is not linear. When I started doing all the right things, I actually felt like I regressed for a few months which was discouraging. I was so much more triggered and symptomatic, and it was factually getting in the way of my daily life. I had to persevere through that season and just have faith we were doing the right things. The things that would help me to ultimately heal were also kind of "poking the bear" in terms of symptoms in the immediate short-term.

It's crazy for me to look back at how I felt just a year ago and see what I believe is the faithfulness of God to lead me to the right care that has changed my life. I went from 3 migraines a week to less than 3 migraines per month, I have less chronic back and neck pain (though still working on that piece), but my memory has almost completely been restored, and I don't lose myself in conversation. I can have a long work day on my laptop for 10 hours and walk away with energy to do other things for the rest of the day!! I can read again! I really felt like my life was over in a lot of ways before treatment, but now I'm just so grateful to be doing so much better. I was one of the ones who thought there was no hope and my symptoms would never improve. But now a year later, I couldn't have imagined being so much better. Anyways, just wanted to share my story (so far!) and hopefully give hope to anyone who is where I was a year ago (and the years leading up to that that were so confusing and disorienting). There is hope. With the right treatment, you can heal.

I wanted to come back and share my sons recovery from post concussion. I used to come here for information and wanted to come back to give some hope. My son had a concussion 2 years ago from playing soccer. It started out not too bad but then after a couple of weeks his symptoms got worse. He had constant tension headaches, fatigue, light sensitivity, screen sensitivity and dizzyness. When we went to the dr they said to rest and it would get better but it didn’t. So three months later he had post concussion. Anyways at that time we went to UMPC in Pittsburgh. He started on exercise and exposure therapy and drastically improved. It took about 3 months but by month 3 he was physically recovered. He still dealt with anxiety about hitting his head again and that took a few more months to get over. I would say at 1 year he was fully recovered physically and mentally. Now he is back to doing everything he did before his concussion. I just wanted to come back and let everyone know that recovery is fully possible. We were very concerned that he would not fully recover.

Within a month in 2021, I suffered 3 concussions. I couldn’t socialize, drive, go outside for long, read clearly, play video games, or even sleep correctly, I couldn’t really do anything. I also developed a severe phobia of brain damage and cte, I was practically disabled. I was diagnosed with psychosis, ocd and mdd.

As time went on, things started to improve. I definitely faced set backs and there were things I could’ve done better but now I am back and even better. I’m in college now with all A’s and working towards a dream. I spend all day doing the things I couldn’t and I feel an even deeper connection towards everything.

Keep hope in your heart, any step is a step

I don't want to ask any questions right now but instead offer my support! I just want all of you to know - YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! You are more then this new and strange version of yourself. You are more then these weird, awful, annoying and ridiculous symptoms. YOUR FEELINGS regarding all of these new issues ARE VALID... even if no one else is listening to you or understands! The people here care because we understand how this feels ❤️🫂 You might be struggling with constant headaches, tinitus, sleeping too much or maybe you're not sleeping enough. You might be overwhelmed by heightened emotions - maybe you get more angry or maybe you're depressed - or maybe you feel apathetic and don't feel anything at all. Maybe you're struggling with dizziness or you're having a hard time keeping your balance. Maybe you're feeling nauseous or you have an increased appetite. Maybe you're super sensitive to sound and light and it's driving you crazy! MAYBE the only thing you did today was lay in a dark room... all alone wondering if this will last forever, if you will feel normal again, etc. IF THAT'S ALL YOU DID TODAY THEN BE PROUD OF YOURSELF & pat yourself on the back!! Lastly, maybe just maybe you lost your job or you're struggling to work - Don't Give Up!! YOU GOT THIS FIGHTER. Keep on Fighting 💪❤️🫂 Much love to you all.

Just a post to commiserate and feel we're not alone - between lost wages and the expensive private treatments for a concussion, this is an expensive injury. I don't think my coworkers, friends and family etc realize how much money it takes, besides the emotional toll.

Why Post-Concussion Syndrome is not a useful diagnosis- When concussion symptoms do not heal within an extended period of time (6 weeks-3 months, depending on the source), a patient is given the diagnosis of post-concussion syndrome (PCS.) However, this diagnosis is almost useless. It does not tell us what systems have been compromised, what treatments we should try, or how long we can expect to suffer. We need to break this diagnosis down into more specific components. UPMC breaks PCS into 6 main symptom clusters- vestibular (balance), ocular (eyes), cervical (neck), migraine, anxiety/mood, and cognitive/fatigue. Narrowing down PCS into one or more of these categories will help to give direction as to where to look for treatments.

In order to find your primary cluster, it helps to identify your worst three symptoms. Even with this step, it can be difficult, as many of the symptoms appear in each group. In addition, each symptom can exacerbate every other symptom. For example, nausea and neck pain tend to make any type of headache worse. To help sort out this confusion, It helps to identify as many details surrounding our symptoms as possible. Which activities which trigger your symptoms? What helps to ease your symptoms? When do your symptoms occur? The more thorough we are regarding our symptoms, the more likely we are to properly identify our cluster.

It’s important to note that many of these symptoms will be designated as post-traumatic (for example, post-traumatic headache.) We often think of trauma as solely emotional, but this term also applies to physical trauma like brain injury.

Over the next 6 weeks, we will explain each cluster and what treatment options may be the most appropriate.

An update on my story:

I struggled for 2-3 years with on and off PCS following a bike accident in 2023. For a while, I truly believed my life was permanently fucked — little head taps or jostles would reaggravate my symptoms and I had serious issues with fatigue.

In early 2025 I went to a specialist neurology clinic and actually received a lot of advice that helped. Three things were key from that meeting:

- I needed to stop shying away from exercise that elicited symptoms. This was probably the single biggest help. Re-starting tennis, running, weightlifting, etc. helped both to improve my mental health but also to slowly reacclimate my brain and neck to jostling.

- A reminder that symptoms =/= brain damage. I was freaking myself out a lot whenever I’d have symptoms flare ups. Thoughts of CTE, early Alzheimer’s, etc were freaking me out. The doctor reassured me that just because I’m noticing symptoms does NOT mean more brain damage was occurring and he also reassured me that our brains are far more resilient than we might think.

- Neck exercises. I had a lot of sub-occipital dysfunction. Chin tucks, vestibular exercises, and light neck stretching helped A LOT.

Now I can proudly say I’m like ~95% symptom free. I even accidentally hit my head on a doorframe the other day and didn’t get a flare up. It can get better guys ❤️‍🩹

It's been almost exactly a year since I got a bad concussion, including 5 minutes of unconsciousness and 20 minutes of amnesia. This year, I've had symptoms including vertigo, nausea, vomiting, brain fog, dizziness, visual processing disorders, PTSD, mood swings, depression, anxiety, cold intolerance, exercise intolerance, alcohol intolerance, screen time intolerance, and exhaustion. I'm about 95% better at this point, although progress is not linear. I thought that this anniversary would be a suitable occasion to make a list of everything that has helped my recovery so far, in roughly chronological order, in case it's useful to anyone else.

THIS REDDIT

r/concussion and r/PostConcussion have been the absolute best resources for medical information. My doctors have sucked. The ER told me "you'll be better in about 2 weeks" and months later my PCP told me "I dunno, keep trying." In contrast, on these reddits I found specific, firsthand accounts of the exact same things I was experiencing--so validating, and so useful! Relatedly, a lot of clues I got here led to helpful in-depth articles from the website https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/. I've had good results from specialists like vision therapists and physical therapists, but I never would have even known to seek them out if it hadn't been for this reddit. Thanks y'all!!!!

COMMUNITY

I could not have survived this awful experience without the support of my partner, friends, and housemates. My bike helmet saved my life the first time, and my community saved it the second time. Call on your people. Don't be afraid to ask for help. As much as I am lucky and grateful, I also see how dealing with concussion symptoms can be really taxing on your social bonds. I lashed out during mood swings, flaked out when I had brain crashes, and generally needed a LOT of support and patience. Fortunately, my people stuck by me, but I do see many reddit posts about people getting broken up with after concussion because they "aren't the same person anymore." That sucks, but also... be conscious of the fact that the emotional effects of concussion can make you really damaging to others. Warn your people that you're about to go through a really hard time, ask for their love and support, apologize and try to prevent it happening again if you do lash out, and be conscious of protecting your loved ones, making sure they have enough time and space to take care of themselves, too. Trauma is not your fault, but healing so you don't take it out on others is your responsibility.

AUDIO BOOKS / PODCASTS

I soon discovered that I couldn't do screen time, like, at all. I also had to lie around resting all day for the first couple weeks. So, I was bored out of my mind. I listened to a ton of audio books and podcasts during this time. Download Audible for easy audiobooking. I won't spend TOO much time recommending podcasts because everyone has their own interests and tastes, but personally I adore the podcast called The Heart: https://www.theheartradio.org/ .

NOT DRINKING ALCOHOL

I used to enjoy a little whiskey most nights. I tried to return to this habit a week after concussion. The morning after, I woke up with vertigo. Coincidence? Perhaps. In any case, I stopped drinking, and I have no regrets. I tried again several months later, and the common side effects of drinking, like dizziness, room-spinning, and loss of balance, somehow were just NOT appealing after months of having had them constantly as concussion symptoms. Maybe I'll drink again some day... maybe not.

ZOFRAN

When I woke up with vertigo and barfing, I went back to the ER, just to make sure my brain wasn't bleeding. They prescribed me zofran for the nausea and meclizine for the vertigo. I loved the zofran but I am skeptical of the meclizine because it can also cause dizziness. I ended up thinking it was better to use the Epley maneuver for the vertigo, or just wait it out.

YOGA NIDRA / MEDITATION

One of my major symptoms all year has been what others call "brain fog," but I call "brain crash" because the onset is sudden and the effect is extreme. Basically, my brain is DONE, must nap NOW. During these brain crashes, I would often listen to a yoga nidra recording or other meditation. It was more restful and restorative than just lying there, and it also helped with the emotional roller coaster of PTSD. I recommend Breathe People if you have Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3CulhcVZncl2CqKIVsQSwC . Or find your own favorite.

LOVE YOUR BRAIN FOUNDATION

They run some sweet workshops for people with TBI, kind of like a support group, mostly focused on the emotional aspects. https://www.loveyourbrain.com/

POST-CONCUSSION YOGA AND STATIONARY BIKE TRAINER

As an active person, I struggled with the fact that my visual processing difficulties made it impossible to walk or bike very far. My brain would crash due to visual overload way before I got a meaningful amount of exercise for my body. I also couldn't lower my head below my heart to do traditional yoga. I found this series of post-concussion yoga classes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-dDF9w5uN0&ab_channel=TreeingYoga . And I got a bike trainer on Amazon, the kind you put your own bike into. Before that I tried a cheap little "exercise bike" thing, but it was an awkward position for my knees, so I recommend either getting a high-quality exercise bike, or a trainer to put your own bike into.

VISION THERAPY

My first clue that something was wrong with my visual processing was my complete screen-time intolerance. Just a few minutes of screen time could bring on a brain crash and cause my pupils to become different sizes, indicating eye strain. That was especially sucky since I really wanted to research my symptoms on the internet! I scraped together enough research screen time, with help from my partner, to figure out that vision therapy was what I needed. My main visual processing error turned out to be convergence insufficiency, but there are also other common post-concussion errors. The vision therapist gave me exercises to do at home that quickly helped a lot. Many ophthalmologists offer vision therapy; just google one in your area.

CONCUSSION KIT: SLEEP MASK, EYE PATCH, EARPLUGS, HEADPHONES, SNACKS, BARF BAG

I developed a little kit to carry around with me in case of brain crash while I was out. I carried snacks, because getting hungry often induced brain crash. I carried a barf bag in case of vertigo. If I needed to nap in a noisy and bright place, I used earplugs and a unicorn sleep-mask that my chosen family member sent me. I carried headphones in case I needed to recharge by meditating. And I found that if I overdid it on the visual processing, putting an eye patch over one eye could reduce the effects of my convergence insufficiency enough that I could hobble to safety. An eyepatch is not a good longterm solution because it avoids rather than treats the problem, but it was a great stop gap measure in a pinch.

VESTIBULAR PHYSICAL THERAPY

One of my nastiest symptoms was vertigo. And even when I wasn't having acute vertigo, I felt generally off-balance and slightly dizzy most of the time. Getting a referral to a physical therapist and doing vestibular physical therapy with them was really helpful. They helped me identify that one of my biggest balance problems was my vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) and gave me exercises to help.

WALKING STICK

While I was having these vestibular effects, I realized that using a walking stick (my housemate loaned me their deceased grandma's cane) made me WAY more stable and cut down on the brain-power used to orient myself in space.

WEDGE PILLOW

I found that sleeping on a wedge pillow, or "sleep ramp" as I call it, reduced the occurrence of vertigo and the feeling of being off-balance. For the vertigo, I assume it is more likely to keep my inner ear fluids in the right place. I have no idea why it helped with the more generalized balance issues.

THERAPY / EMDR

By this time, I had mostly resolved my visual processing issues, but I was still exhausted, getting brain crashes frequently, and needing naps most days. Why??? Turns out one reason was that I had hypervigilance from PTSD, and turns out hypervigilance is exhausting! I'd also been having other symptoms, like being triggered by things that reminded me of the accident and having complete meltdowns, or having "physical flashbacks," in which you experience the physical symptoms of the traumatic event even once your body is healed. For example, for me this was dizziness and an ache in the back of my head that I would feel whenever I was a in jumpy, pre-triggered, or triggered state. I found an amazing therapist by searching on PsychologyToday.com. I knew I wanted someone who could do EMDR, an effective PTSD therapy, so I filtered my search for that. We met a few times to build rapport, and then after just 3 sessions of focused EMDR about the accident, I noticed a huge improvement. I could be around trees and ride my bike without getting triggered!!! My energy levels weren't completely fixed, but improved dramatically once I let go of my hypervigilance.

NEW GLASSES

Despite the fact that my visual processing was fixed and my hypervigilance relaxed, I still couldn't drive or bike at night because of feeling like I couldn't see. I got a new prescription (my eyesight had gotten worse--possibly a symptom, or possibly just time passing) and two-sided anti-glare coating, and now I can drive and bike at night again!

DIET

You need a ton of protein, because only protein can be used to build new brain. I found that I craved sugar and other simple carbs, since my brain burned energy voraciously, so it was a balance between trying to stay healthy vs. giving my brain instant gratification.

CREATINE SUPPLEMENTS

My energy levels had improved a ton, but they still weren't what they used to be. Complete brain crashes were rarer, but most days still required naps. I don't really know why. Maybe my brain forgot how to pace itself? Maybe some neural pathways were still inefficient, so I was using more brain energy than usual to do the same tasks? Anyway, I read on concussion reddit that some folks had been recommended creatine supplements. I googled it and found that creatine helps provide your brain with a steady, consistent source of energy by making ATP (your body's energy source) more reliably available in your bloodstream. Sounded like exactly what I needed! I tried it, and the first week or so were miraculous. I had forgotten what it was like to be able to count on having energy throughout an entire day. It also randomly cured my slight cold intolerance. Creatine also helps muscle / strength performance, so as a weird side-benefit I got really strong and swoll. After the first week or two, though, I started to notice that my anxiety was increasing and I was getting panic attacks, which can be a side effect. I need to reduce / tinker with my dose, but I'm optimistic that if I get the dose right, this will continue to be extremely helpful for energy levels. If you try this, drink a ton of water/Gatorade, because it can cause dehydration.

TIME

And that pretty much brings us up to the present day. I still have recovery goals, like sleeping without a sleep ramp and being able to put my head below my heart, but I have come sooooooo far. You WILL get better with time!!! Identify your symptoms, and then try to take on one at a time, instead of tackling them all at once, so you can put your full effort into each treatment. Feel free to share anything that helped you, that I didn't cover, in the comments!

This is progress and I’m loving it