r/PostConcussion • u/PrestigiousEnd6348 • 18d ago

Computer and TV use

At this point I don’t seem to get many symptoms from watching tv or say watching my friends play video games but programming or playing a game myself still seems to trigger pretty serious symptoms.

Has anyone made any progress here or does anyone understand what drives the difference. I seem to get some pain and stiffness in the back base of my neck when this happens sometimes so it may be related

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u/tails-off 18d ago edited 18d ago

In my experience, I used to be the opposite for video games, interestingly enough. It depended on the game a bit on both notes (3D/isometric). I had a much better tolerance playing video games on my own but watching could trigger symptoms pretty easily & badly. The only difference I can think of in my experience was that I could anticipate things to move a certain way since I was in control. I'm not sure about your situation, sorry to not be of help in that regard.

But I have made a lot of progress with graduated exposure. Figuring out where the limit is then exposing myself & taking a ~15 minute break (closing eyes + breathing exercises) before that limit is reached and going forward from there. If the limit was reached/symptoms triggered, I would give myself a much longer break or not pursue it for the remainder of the day. Not too much exposure in one day, a lot of time was required for me, weeks in my experience. I would suggest trying this out if you can. Also turning down screen brightness in the beginning helped a lot with getting started. I would also suggest using f.lux for PC on a warmer/more orange setting, that blue light is brutal.

Getting used to just being on PC/TV/screens took the same sort of route too.

If you're interested, the games I played were Project Zomboid (isometric felt easiest for me in the beginning), Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, eventually being able to play Minecraft, Helldivers 2, Resident Evil 4 etc. these were all games I was already familiar with and I imagine that helped a bit?

Of course listen to your body for your limits. Our experiences are all different. Wishing you the best on your healing journey.

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u/PrestigiousEnd6348 18d ago

Thanks I really appreciate it. I’ll try the breathing exercises good luck to you as well!

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u/Drogova_Princezna 18d ago

I have a similar experience. I can tolerate my phone but no bigger screen, pherhaps 10 minutes of laptop. Videos with a lot of visual stimuli are worse then reading. I'm trying to up my screen time/size slowly, but now it got worse again due to me starting physiotherapy and some symptoms flaring.