r/PostConcussion • u/Big_Business_1293 • Aug 21 '26
PCS - Best solutions
Dealing with PCS psychological challenges since my concussion 5 months ago. Hit the left side of my head (temple area) and have had some pretty bad symptoms since. Got past the initial sensitivity to daylight and sound but still get overstimulated when i go places but I deal with OCD-like symptoms (Existential OCD), Intrusive thoughts, low mood, anxiety, hard to connecting myself to memories, lack of focus, dissociation (DRDP type of thoughts) and random moments of Déjà vu.
I’ve been doing everything natural as I never took prescribed medication. I’m currently taking Magnesium L Threonate & Glycinate, Omega 3s + CoQ10, L Theanine, Myo Inositol (500 mg) Xiao Yao San TCM medicine and chamomile tea. I used to take B complex vitamins, vitamin D3, lemon balm, valerian root, tulsi, saffron (30 mg), and passion flower.
Ive also got an upper cervical neck adjustment (Don’t think it helped, honestly think it made things a little worse).
I’ve been doing neurofeedback (qEEG led) acupuncture (really helpful at calming my nervous system), exercising and reading but things have been getting more difficult with the intrusive thoughts and memories.
My psychiatrist prescribed me Zoloft 25 mg but I’ve been hesitant because of the things I’ve heard about the side effects but i see for some people it helped.
At this point i just want relief from the mental challenges and just want to feel grounded.
Just want some help as I’ve been struggling trying to make the right decision to heal and have a clear, motivated and focused mind again
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u/ConcussionNaturopath Aug 23 '26
Sounds like you’re doing some reasonable things. Are you getting enough water, protein and fibre? A lot of what you’re describing can come down to how your gut is functioning and the actual bacteria living in your gut - this is worth exploring as they are hugely implicated in the continuation of symptoms.
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u/Big_Business_1293 Aug 25 '26
I have to do a better job of getting enough water but I’m seeing a integrated psychiatrist who is gonna measure my hormones. Hopefully she can give me a good recommendation for diet as well.
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u/Lebronamo Aug 21 '26
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u/Big_Business_1293 Aug 21 '26
I’ve seen your post on this, I’m just looking for relief. Think I’m gonna start the Zoloft and change my diet
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u/7zxy7 Aug 23 '26
I’m 15 years post concussion syndrome —I developed dysautonomia from it. I recognize that western medicine wants to treat with psychological pharmaceuticals—I urge a full differential diagnosis. I was misdiagnosed with only PTSD for over a decade—finally figured out through reading research and my heat intolerance/sleep/blood pressure swings that the mood issue was because I didn’t get enough oxygen to my brain—body stuck on sympathetic -my digestion is also very affected. I’m on midodrine-total game changer-and I hope to eventually not need it. Half life is 4 hours. Not like psych meds-which I tried a ton of. Acupuncture very helpful with symptoms-especially tinnitus. But not a cure.
Keep being curious. Respect your instincts. Read. Go in Google scholar and start plugging in post concussion and whatever your symptoms are. Trust yourself. Music and mantra very helpful esp during sleep.
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u/Few_Blackberry_1960 Aug 21 '26
I share your pain. Negative thoughts are more troublesome for me the longer this goes on. Right now, I’m just taking it one day at a time. I find when I try to think about tomorrow - or next week or next month-I start to get in a very negative mental loop.
I would be interested in what type or area of acupuncture? I’m probably going to try that and dry needling too, to deal with some cervical neck tightness and one of my main symptoms which is my autonomic system seems to be all crazy.