Terrified of Concussion

[JohnM]

So, about five days ago I hit my the back of head on a metal bookshelf, and since then I seem to be obsessing about “symptoms” that make me terrified I’m dying of an undetected concussion. Twice it seems like lights have gotten suddenly brighter, there are moments when I think I might be dizzy but I’m not sure, I’ve had nightmares, sometimes I have a very dull shooting pain near the area where I hit my head, and bouts insomnia and sleepiness. Basically I’ve been a hypochondriac for so long that I can no longer distinguish between genuine symptoms and symptoms that I produce myself with my own anxious mind. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Need some help here

 

[triceps]

So, about five days ago I hit my the back of head on a metal bookshelf, and since then I seem to be obsessing about “symptoms” that make me terrified I’m dying of an undetected concussion. Twice it seems like lights have gotten suddenly brighter, there are moments when I think I might be dizzy but I’m not sure, I’ve had nightmares, sometimes I have a very dull shooting pain near the area where I hit my head, and bouts insomnia and sleepiness. Basically I’ve been a hypochondriac for so long that I can no longer distinguish between genuine symptoms and symptoms that I produce myself with my own anxious mind. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Need some help here

Hi JohnM. Sorry you banged your head and are agonizing so much. Health anxiety, as you know, makes us look for and feel symptoms to fit whatever serious condition we're afraid of. From what you've written, my guess is that you're in that spot now, looking for symptoms to match up with a brain damage fear. I think you're probably fine and if you can steer your thoughts in that direction, many of those symptoms will leave.

 

[Steven]

Hey there. I had a concussion about a year back and was diagnosed at the ER. I was basically just told to take it easy for two weeks. No alcohol, sports, or anything like that. So basically my point is even if you do have one, there isn’t much you can do but just go about your life and make sure you don’t bump your head again for a couple weeks.