Post-concussion anxiety and depression

Is there a history of anxiety and depression for you? I also had a concussion in 2019...had many of the same symptoms as you. But I have a history of severe panic attacks for years plus some depression. Yes, it was made worse initially by my fall hitting my head. Only b/c I was worried about brain damage...and it kicked off terrible migraines (never had before) which I am still coping with 6 years later. The migraines can be quite severe and I can't take triptans b/c of heart disease, only CGRPs which are not really effective.
You could be suffering from PTSD from your concussion which has the presentation of severe anxiety. If you are worried about long term effects down the road, yes, this is normal and certainly contributing to your anxiety. Have there been any unwelcomed triggers for you besides your fall resulting in anxiety? Anything else going on in your life that is upsetting you and may not even be aware of? Anxiety is a reaction to real fear or imagined fear in your mind. And, yes, the fall might have "re-wired" your brain and not in a good way. Depression is considered anger turned inward. All issues to explore with your therapist (hope it's a good one, if not, change). The Lexapro will kick in - you are only on it 10 days. Be patient. Don't know your age (I am 70) but I can tell you anxiety and depression can rear its ugly head at ANY time in life. Sometimes it is an obvious cause, sometimes you have to dig deep. I understand you completely. You are not alone. If the Lexapro does not help (give it at least 3 months) there are always other SSRIs or SNRIs to take. The very best of luck to you, hang tight.

My moderately-severe concussion was the result of tripping over my feet. My body tensed up and I fell flat on my face. I finally went to the ER and they ordered a CAT scan. Thankfully no broken bones. I was concerned about any breaks in my cervical bones. What they did find was a meningioma of no consequence. Following their advice, I saw a neurologist. She sent me for physical therapy. WOW! The PT group I saw specialize in concussions. The exercises basically involved reconnecting the eyes, brain and muscle control. Primarily eyes to brain. They did some rebuilding of the core muscles through light cardiovascular (riding the bike) exercises. Talking with the neurologist, we also found that the anti-depressant I was on (for nearly 25 years) had significantly suppressed some of the processing of external visual signals which were involved in my balance. I contacted my GP and made some adjustments in my medication, which has helped tremendously with my overall health. Medicare paid for all of my therapy sessions which was a tremendous relief. One additional observation was that after one session I realized that this therapy would have been SUPER advantageous to have done after my cataract surgery. The eyes and brain connection is vitally linked and is important to maintain.
Depression is a major side effect of a concussion. From what I have learned, it is part of the brain’s healing process. I strongly suggest finding someone who will refer you to a physical/occupational therapy group. They are not just about rehabilitating broken bones and recovering from surgery. They are more about reconnecting the overall body operation.
I sincerely hope that your situation improves. There are so many phases to a concussion mentally and physically. It takes time, care, and patience. Best regards.
P.S. All of this “physical therapy” has brought me to the point of totally going off using antidepressants. I feel reconnected to life for the first time in 35 years.

Wow! You have been through a lot! I, too, had a concussion, when I fell flat on my face! Additionally, I have an incurable neurodegenerative disorder. So, I was assigned physical therapy, by my physician, where my balance, gait etc. was improved, through many ‘re-learning’ exercises! However, I had a co-pay of $60.00, for each therapy session! Medicare did not pay my physical therapy bill!