Hi, I have had 2 severe TBIs, the worst one on my 5th birthday (bad fall), 2nd about 20 years later (home invasion & assault), a mild one at age 11 (broken jaw & concussion). I didn't know until a few months ago that this was why I have had chronic depression and a host of other problems that have caused great emotional and physical pain for 45 years. While I am now permanently disabled physically, it was both a shock and a relief to know what was wrong with me. Once I knew what was wrong, then I could get past that and work on what I needed and what I could do about it.

Since I cannot take antidepressants due to the brain damage, what helped me was to get with a good counselor trained in dialectical behavior training and cognitive behavior therapy to help me learn coping skills, that helped me to work from where I am right now, cognitively and functionally. I also got hooked up with a good neurologist who understood the implications of my injuries, and she helps me to work with the other specialists to address the brain part of the physical problems to find safe medical options. It's all a process.

But the depression is a biggie on so many levels, that only starts at how it affects one's subjective feelings. That kind of stuff on a chronic basis can hurt the rest of your body, too, not only mood, so I totally understand and empathize. I don't pretend to know what is best for you, and I know that each of us has to discover what works FOR US, and I support you choosing what makes sense FOR YOU. That being said, I have discovered a few things that are fairly simple to do, that have helped ME, that may, or may not, be helpful for you. I'm more than happy to share a few things that I have tried that worked, even some things that didn't work so well, if that would be helpful for you, and hopefully we will both find other things that are helpful along the way. Let me know what would feel most supportive right now.

With kindest regards, Donna E.