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Severe TBI from car crash, now severe social indifference
Hi everyone!
I hope all is doing well. I had a severe TBI a year ago after a major car crash. I am physically doing ok, however mentally I have a severe indifference towards society. I get very angry and do not like people very much. This is not how I was before the accident. I always tried my utmost best to be as kind as possible to everyone I encountered. Now it is only a select few that I show this kindness towards. I get so angry at unfairities, people who do not care for the environment, nature, animals and people in need, when people are self centred and narsassistic. This has made me turn in to a rather bitter person which I hated, and it is obviously not helping my recovery. I was at a psychiatrist in December last year and he advised I have PTSD. I have quit my job and have become a bit of a hermit and extremely introverted.
Ignorance is bliss ,but its almost like I can't be ignorant. A large percentage of humanity seems ugly to me. Leading to occasional and irrational suicidal thoughts.
Is this normal and part of the recovery process? Will these feelings go away?
I cannot afford a phsycologist as I am unemployed and am scared to work with people again.
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@natashabb, wondering how you are doing, physically and socially?
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1 ReactionDear @natashabb
I read your writing. You were hit during your car accident. I’m sorry.
My life has changed in my life and lost 80% of my brain from my accident. I’m glad you can do better things for you😉
Thx,
Greg D. @greg1956
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1 ReactionIt's been 20 years since my brain injury and coma. I still feel like that. But I've learned to give ppl the benefit of the doubt. There is a lot of ugliness but there is more beauty. That's what I do, I look for the good, the beautiful, the ethical and the fair. Sometimes it's tough but I refuse to be a Scrooge the rest of my life.
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1 Reaction@lisalucier that would be me. 20 years later and I'm still pissed off.
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1 Reaction@andygw - hi, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I anticipate that your feeling pissed off may have to do with losing some aspects of your life as it was before, but I will let you tell about that. You talked about 20 years passing since your brain injury and coma. Will you share a bit more of your story and what you may have lost, and what makes you feel pissed?
@lisalucier I have never recovered from it 100%. I still cannot run, I'm still dizzy and clumsy. I walk strange, sometimes toe to heel because im not sure where the floor is. Most people do not understand and I'm tired of explaining. My coma was caused by being hit by a drunk driver. He t-boned my car, pushed it into the on coming lane and I hit another car head on, killing the driver, an 18 yo girl with a 3 year old child. The hospitalization, the PT I went to for 2 years. I don't dwell on the past, but when I think of it, the girls death because of a guy who did not care makes me angry too, it was a hit and run. He and his friends ran away. The comment I read made me think of it. Both of those 2 things and my physical limitations are what anger me.
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1 Reaction@andygw my husband didn’t start experiencing his symptoms til 2020, 16 years post accident, diagnosed with PTSD, TBI and persistent post concussion syndrome, have seen every doctor under the Sun since then, that was the one thing they didn’t really check was his head, though all his hair fell out in the back of his head after his 2 week stay in the ICU. He had 8 broken ribs, 3 crushed, punctured lung, surgery on his hand, elbow and knee, tongue 3/4 of the way cut through, sowed his ear back on……3 weeks after our son was born, that along with playing high school & College Football (cracked helmets) and a cracked snowmobile helmet as well. All they do is throw meds at him - 13 currently - he is losing hope.
You have every right as your accident was not your fault. Wonder if those that caused it ever think about it or feel guilty? So sorry!
My husband to is angry “at the world” most days, angry because he is not who he used to be, how he can’t do certain things, it flows into his marriage and mostly the relationship with our son. H says and has done some horrible things to him (derogatory) & can’t help it and later is sorry, but it’s too late. I am so sorry about your accident.
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3 Reactions@andygw - that sounds like a horrible accident. Wow. With that and the physical symptoms you mentioned, it's not surprising you feel anger.
During your hospitalization and PT period, did you also see a therapist specializing in trauma? If not, is that something you are considering?
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1 ReactionI’m very sorry to hear of your situation. Has anyone checked for pituitary dysfunction? The pituitary gland can be damaged in a head injury but inexplicably doctors rarely check for it.
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1 ReactionI hear ya bro, 16/Nov I was involved in a head on hit n run...My car had to be totaled by the insurance company..I was diagnosed with moderate to severe concussion.
I have a lot of the symptoms listed in these posts.
Disorientation, nausea, dizziness, some problems with bright lights, depression is big time.
I volunteer at my church as a live steaming camera operator but asked to be taken off schedule, I don't wanna get sll dizzy and fall of my camera position.
Last night I got enraged at my Ipad and broke it half.
Anger and rage not like I 've felt before are present. Yup suicide is a ever present evil thought...yea, maybe I'd be better off dead.
I'm 71 no family, not married and not as many pals as before.
I feel ya bro...messed up in Honolulu my home....
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