After a traumatic brain injury, some people experience anxiety or panic attacks. They don’t occur in everyone who’s had a concussion, however, they can happen.
What’s the difference between anxiety and panic attacks?
Are they the same thing? Well, yes and no. Panic attacks are a type of anxiety and anxiety is just a more general term.
Anxiety is a general sense of worry that may be difficult to control. One may experience racing thoughts about a number of things including worrying about things that haven’t happened yet or worrying about situations that have already happened. Everyone feels stressed sometimes, but anxiety may feel like it’s impacting your functioning at work, at home, or in your relationships. It may feel difficult to relax, sleep or eat and you may experience tightness in your body.
On the other hand, panic attacks can have a sudden onset, often lasting for 10-60 minutes. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, hot or cold flashes, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, and numbness. Sometimes people aren’t sure why they experience panic attacks as they can feel like they “come out of nowhere.” It’s my professional opinion that panic attacks occur when people are under a lot of stress or have had traumatic experiences. Getting a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion is, by nature, a traumatic experience.
What do I do if I am having anxiety or panic attacks after getting a concussion?
If you haven’t already, you should see a doctor to get your concussion evaluated and treated. They may have a myriad of treatment recommendations to help you start feeling better including possible medications as well as different therapies.
Make sure you are engaging in basic self-care like getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, eating nutritious foods, and moving your body in a way that feels good to you. This will help aid in your concussion recovery, support your overall health, as well as support your mental health.
Then I would recommend seeking out a mental health therapist or counselor to help support you with your anxiety or panic attacks. Counseling can help you explore the cause(s) of your anxiety/panic and ways to cope with it.
Reach out today!
At Colorado Concussion Clinic, we have a mental health therapist who can support you toward feeling better from anxiety and panic attacks after sustaining a concussion. Reach out today to schedule an initial appointment!