Psychological support for post-concussion syndrome.
When a "small" head knock has a bigger impact than expected.
Most people recover well after a concussion. For some, however, symptoms continue for weeks or months after the initial injury. This is sometimes referred to as post-concussion syndrome or persisting symptoms after concussion.
You may be experiencing headaches, dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, memory changes, sleep problems, irritability, anxiety or feeling more easily overwhelmed.
It can be particularly frustrating when the original injury seemed relatively minor, but its effects haven't been.
When symptoms don't go away as expected.
Persisting symptoms after concussion can be confusing.
You may have been told that your concussion was "mild", while finding that you don't feel like yourself. You might look fine to other people but be struggling to concentrate, manage noise and busy environments, get through a full day, or keep up with work, study and relationships.
There is also a lot of fear and uncertainty around concussion. Information in the media can sometimes make symptoms feel frightening or unpredictable, particularly when you're unsure what is safe to do or whether symptoms mean that something is wrong.
How neuropsychological support can help.
When symptoms persist, it can be easy to become caught in a cycle of monitoring, worrying about symptoms and avoiding activities for fear of making things worse.
Understanding how different factors interact can help reduce uncertainty and give you a more manageable framework for responding to symptoms.
Psychological approaches to recovery.
Psychological support such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can be used alongside medical and physical rehabilitation to help you manage persisting symptoms and return to the things that are important to you.
Depending on your individual needs, therapy may focus on:
- Making sense of your symptoms
- Understanding the relationship between symptoms, thoughts, emotions and behaviour
- Developing strategies for cognitive difficulties and building confidence in your ability to manage symptoms
- Reconnecting with work, study, relationships and other things that matter to you
When might psychological support be helpful?
You may benefit from support if you:
- Continue to experience symptoms months after a concussion
- Feel anxious or fearful about your symptoms or recovery
- Are avoiding activities because you're worried about making symptoms worse
- Are struggling to return to work, study or usual routines
- Feel frustrated that your recovery has taken longer than expected
- Are experiencing ongoing fatigue, sleep difficulties or cognitive changes
- Feel that your symptoms are affecting your confidence, relationships or quality of life
Getting started.
Psychological and neuropsychological support for persisting concussion symptoms is available in Mornington and Highett.