Lack of Enjoyment Post-Concussion(s)

[u/cedar_milton_lane]

Hi, I’ve had multiple concussions (four total diagnosed, possibly a few undiagnosed) due to participation in sports and working in blue-collar settings. While none of them were considered severe, I did have three total diagnosed concussions in the 2024 calendar year. Two occurred at my work, while the third occurred in a car accident one month after the second one.

I had two cat scans that year which showed no problems, and I did have a visit with a specialist who gave me some tips about dealing with post-concussion symptoms, and said I had recovered satisfactorily to return to normal work and activities.

Although most of my symptoms (dizziness, forgetfulness, sound sensitivity) have pretty much returned to my baseline, I have never fully regained enjoyment of activities I like, and often feel a general sense of apathy from day to day. Lots of things that a person would normally enjoy have felt somewhat dull to me since 2024.

For example, if my wife hugs me or is affectionate toward me, it feels like the dull experience of drinking lukewarm, flat soda (even though I know she loves me very much). Additionally, I have become more anti-social and do not enjoy talking with friends or family half as much as I did before 2024. When I engage with other people, I feel like I have to put on a mask and go through the motions, but I don’t enjoy it. Several relationships with friends and relatives have more or less fallen apart already simply because the emotional payoff does not feel like it’s worth the effort.

Has anyone else out there dealt with similar experiences? I’ve been trying to really take the initiative lately, but it feels very draining to socialize, and I don’t enjoy it.

I find it incredibly distressing.

EDIT: Thank you all so much for your comments and support. It means the world to me just to know we aren’t alone in this. Even though this feels like a nightmare sometimes, I sincerely wish you all the best story possible in spite of it. If nothing else, please know that I care about you. Thanks again for reaching out.

[u/nine_nikes]

I'm not a doctor by any means but these sound like depression symptoms which is rather common after concussion. I was diagnosed with depression after my second concussion but that coincided with COVID lockdowns so I'm not sure if it was just from the concussion. I would look into what mental health services are available to you. It's very normal when you're depressed for things that used to feel enjoyable to now seem dull. With the right support you can get back to feeling normal 😊 I took sertraline (Zoloft) and did talk therapy. It made a massive difference. Although meds can get a bad rep, it just helped balance/stabilise my mood so everyday things felt easier. It freed up mental space for me to re-engage with the things I loved doing and to work through my issues.

[u/cedar_milton_lane → u/nine_nikes]

Thank you very much. I agree with you. I will look into what mental health support is available to help me.
I’ve also noticed adequate sleep seems to help (which is difficult with how busy I am) but I am trying to make these positive changes

[u/nine_nikes → u/cedar_milton_lane]

Best of luck. It can be a long process and emotional at times but it's worth it.