The Hidden Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): My Journey with Cognitive, Emotional, and Sensory Struggles
- jordanswellness
- 11 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) brings many hidden challenges that often go unrecognized. From memory struggles and emotional instability to sensory overload and persistent fatigue, TBI symptoms are complex and deeply personal. In this post, I share my journey through these unseen symptoms, offering insight into how they impact daily life and recovery.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is based on my personal experience and research regarding brain injury and recovery. It is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding your health or treatment.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is often a life-altering experience that can deeply affect one's cognitive abilities, emotions, sensory processing, and overall quality of life. While some symptoms are visible and immediately apparent, many others are more subtle, hidden, and harder to identify. These are the invisible struggles that can significantly impact everyday life and, unfortunately, are often misunderstood or overlooked. As someone who’s experienced the aftermath of a TBI firsthand, I want to share the hidden symptoms I’ve faced in the hopes of shedding light on an aspect of TBI recovery that’s rarely talked about.
1. Memory Struggles: The Vanishing Act
One of the most frustrating and isolating symptoms I’ve dealt with is memory loss, particularly when it comes to retaining what I’ve read. For example, I tried to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, but I couldn’t get past the first chapter. Each time I picked it up, I felt like I was starting from scratch. The words blurred together, and I couldn’t remember what I’d read the night before. I even had trouble recalling simple details or even how far I had gotten into the story. It wasn’t about not wanting to read—my brain just couldn’t process the information in a way that made sense.
On top of that, my eye issues only complicated things. Words would jump off the page or blur together, making reading even more difficult. I couldn’t keep up with the story, and it felt like I was fighting a constant battle against my brain. It’s incredibly frustrating to want to engage with something like a book and have your brain betray you every time you try.
2. Emotional Overload: Tears at the Smallest Things
Another deeply hidden symptom I experienced after my TBI was the sudden onset of extreme emotional reactions. I would cry at the drop of a hat, often for reasons that felt out of proportion to the situation. For example, once I dropped a mug, and it shattered into pieces. Instead of brushing it off, I burst into tears immediately. It felt like a wave of emotion came crashing over me with no control. I remember feeling this intense sense of frustration whenever I couldn’t think of the right words during conversations. Simple thoughts would get stuck in my mind, and I’d literally feel a block—a huge roadblock inside my head.
It was frustrating and overwhelming. I would feel embarrassed by these emotional outbursts, not understanding why they were happening, but over time, I realized they were a direct result of my TBI. Emotional dysregul ation, a common TBI symptom, became a daily challenge. I wasn’t in control of my emotions, and it felt like my brain was constantly throwing curveballs I wasn’t prepared for.
3. Sensory Sensitivity: The Invisible Overload
Sensory overload was another hidden symptom that took me a while to identify. It would happen when I found myself feeling internally frustrated and irritable, without understanding why. I would feel a level of agitation that didn’t seem to have a clear cause. But then, one day, I put on noise-canceling headphones, and suddenly, the frustration faded. It hit me: I had been experiencing sensory overload. My brain was overwhelmed by external stimuli like sound, light, and even movement—and I hadn't even realized it. The noise, the constant stimuli, were overwhelming my senses without me even being aware of it.
Once I realized that my TBI was the cause of this, it was a game changer. I began to recognize my limits, but even now, it can be easy to forget that these symptoms are part of the TBI process. It’s as if my brain gets too overloaded and then reacts in ways I don’t fully understand until I stop, listen, and give myself permission to acknowledge that I’m struggling.
4. Fatigue and Sleep Struggles: The Unseen Exhaustion
Fatigue, especially delayed fatigue, has been one of the hardest parts of my TBI recovery. It’s not just being tired after a long day—it’s a deep, bone-weary exhaustion that creeps up on you, and it often hits at unexpected times. I wake up in the middle of the night, around 3 a.m., with head pain that won’t go away. I can’t fall back asleep, and it becomes a vicious cycle. Some nights, the pain is so intense that it feels impossible to rest. This sleep disruption contributes to the constant cycle of fatigue I face during the day.
What I’ve found particularly tough is the delayed fatigue. If I do more than one activity in a day, it feels like I pay for it in the following days. I can push through a yoga class or a doctor's appointment, but the next few days are brutal. I remember one day in particular: I had a vision therapy appointment followed by physical therapy to reduce driving stress. My husband chauffeured me to both appointments, and I thought I’d be fine afterward. But then, I went home, took a nap, and taught a one-hour yoga class in the evening. It seemed manageable at the time, but the next three days were a complete write-off. The fatigue was overwhelming, and my symptoms flared up in a way that left me unable to get out of bed. It’s as though the fatigue accumulates, and once I reach a certain threshold, my body just shuts down.
This delayed reaction to activity is something I constantly have to monitor. It’s not just about pacing myself in the moment; it’s about knowing the impact my actions will have in the long run.
5. Headaches and Migraines: The Unyielding Pain
Headaches have been another constant companion since my TBI. I’ve experienced severe head pain on the left side of my head, where TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) was administered. For the first 18 months after my injury, this pain was a constant 6-8/10, and now, it lingers at a 5/10, even with all the therapies I’ve been doing: speech therapy, physical therapy, vision therapy, and light therapy glasses.
The pain from these headaches doesn’t subside easily, and despite trying everything in my power to alleviate it, it remains a daily challenge. I never know when it will spike or how long it will last, and it feels like I’m constantly fighting against it.
Living with the Hidden Symptoms of TBI
The symptoms I’ve shared are just a few of the hidden struggles that come with a TBI. They aren’t always visible, and they can be difficult to explain, both to others and sometimes even to myself. But learning to navigate these invisible barriers—whether it’s memory issues, emotional instability, sensory overload, or the ever-present fatigue—has been a long process. I’ve had to develop patience, understanding, and a deeper compassion for myself in ways I never imagined.
If you are dealing with similar hidden symptoms, I want to remind you that you are not alone. Your struggles are valid, and there is help available, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. The road to recovery may be long, but with each step, you learn more about yourself and how to live with your new reality. The journey may be tough, but acknowledging these hidden symptoms is the first step toward healing, growth, and finding peace in the chaos.
Stay strong, and keep advocating for your health. You're not alone in this journey. 💪🌱
All my light. All my love.
Namaste.
Jordan
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Disclaimer: This post is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical conditions. Please consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplements or therapies.
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