Do You Know When Your Brain is Stressed?

Many TBI survivors suffer from major brain fog and fatigue. For me, it was important to try to get ahead of the game and recognize the stressors that triggered a "stressed out" response from my brain. Throughout recovery, I began to ask myself the question of "when is my brain stressed?" And much to my surprise, it was a combination of physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms that could be recognized ahead of time.

Here are my top five for each category

Physical:

1. chronic fatigue

2. tense pain in the back and head

3. stiffness and tension in muscles

4. nausea and dizziness

5. difficulty sleeping

Emotional:

1. Constant worrying

2. Agitation

3. Restlessness

4. Feeling overwhelmed

5. Sense of loneliness/isolation

Cognitive:

1. Forgetfulness

2. Poor short term memory

3. Indecisiveness

4. Anxious thoughts

5. Difficulty focusing

Behavioral:

1. Avoiding contact and social situations with others

2. Using caffeine to keep going

3. Becoming argumentative with loved ones

4. Engaging in nervous habits

5. Abnormal eating habits (eating less or more than usual for you)

Understanding the triggers and symptoms that lead to a stressed-out brain has helped me to be able to be proactive instead of reactive throughout my recovery. I hope that understanding these will help you do the same.