Facts About Concussion and Brain Injury

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Facts about Concussion and Brain Injury: Where To Get Help

What Is a Concussion?


Concussions Are Serious







Medical Help





Danger Signs


  • One pupil larger than the other.
  • Drowsiness or inability to wake up.
  • A headache that gets worse and does not go away.
  • Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination.
  • Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation.

Danger Signs — Children, Toddlers, and Infants


  • Will not stop crying and cannot be consoled.
  • Will not nurse or eat.

Symptoms of Brain Injury

“I just don’t feel like myself.”

Persons of All Ages


Concussion symptoms are often grouped into four categories, including:

  • Remembering and Thinking
    • Difficulty thinking clearly
    • Feeling slowed down
    • Difficulty concentrating
    • Difficulty remembering new information
  • Physical
    • Headache
    • Nausea or vomiting (early on)
    • Balance problems
    • Dizziness
    • Fuzzy or blurry vision
    • Feeling tired, having no energy
    • Sensitivity to noise or light
  • Emotional/Mood
    • Irritability
    • Sadness
    • More emotional
    • Nervousness or anxiety
  • Sleep Disturbance
    • Sleeping more than usual
    • Sleeping less than usual
    • Trouble falling asleep



Young Children



  • Crying more than usual
  • Headache that will not go away
  • Change in nursing, eating, or sleeping patterns
  • Becoming easily upset or increased temper tantrums
  • Sad mood
  • Lack of interest in usual activities or favorite toys
  • Loss of new skills, such as toilet training
  • Loss of balance, unsteady walking
  • Poor attention

Older Adults


Getting Better







Tips for Healing: Adults

Here are a few tips to help you get better:

  • Take only those drugs that your doctor has approved.

Tips for Healing: Children



Where to Get Help

Help for People with Concussion






For more information, see the resources listed below.

Help for Families and Caregivers




  • Has their personality changed?
  • Do they get angry for no reason?
  • Do they get lost or easily confused?
  • Do they have more trouble than usual making decisions?


Resources for Getting Help








From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov.




Comments (465)


Hi there,

When I was about 7, my parents tell me, I fell off a balcony and hit my head. I don't remember that ever happening and, I don't have very many memories of my childhood to begin with. When I was 8, I split my forhead open on a radiator and was stitched up. During my elementary years, I was in so many fights, I can't really count them. In high school, I played football, and on one occasion was concussed (true daze) but never did anything for it. When I was about 16, I experienced chronic headaches for about two years.

I have had depression, anger, irritability, difficulty concentrating, anxiety and panic attacks since I was twelve. I am 26 now.

I practice Tai Chi, meditation, yoga, and I work as much as I can. I am incredibly exhausted, all the time. I have no energy. I feel heavy. My head feels as if there is always pressure in the back and my thought process feels slow.

It feels like there is no way out. I am seeking a solution. Thanks for listening,


Chi - I am so sorry. I am on here seeking help for my own concussion, but had to reply to you to let you know that at least one person ready your story and I am sending as much goodness your way as I can. I truly hope you are able to find ways to undo or recover from some of the damage that has been done to your poor brain. Hang in there. We gotta believe that there's a way to make it better, even if it's only a little bit. I'm going to try the M.I.N.D. diet. Maybe that will help you too, although it sounds like you're already doing everything you can.
You got this.

I play netball in uni and i got smacked in the back of the head with the ball it really hurt and i felt pressure round my head i was hit just below the ponytail really hard i collapsed and got up feeling sick and sleepy i feel dizzy tree days later should i go to the doctors?

Yes go see the doctor. I fell and hit the back of my head while wearing a helmet and still got a concussion.

Please dont rush you recovery. I tried to push a little too hard and it set me back. Please go slow.

I slipped on a patch of ice really hard when I was about 11-12 (I'm surprised my skull didn't split from the impact), and was knocked out for probably 2 minutes. I was treated for concussion, but I can say I've not felt the same ever since. I'm now 20, and have had to live with limited concentration and a somewhat constant pressure at the back of my skull that occasionally becomes a headache if I think too hard about something (exactly the part that hit the icy concrete). I have trouble storing things in my short term memory as well as I used to, which is really alarming because I'm only a young adult and it worries me that it may lead to problems later on. My mind is almost always foggy/heavy, some days being worse than others. I can't problem solve very quickly. Pattern based problems are easier, but trying to work out Maths in a pinch is almost impossible for me to do in a small timeframe. I suspect that the fall may have been more significant that I initially thought, but I'm also thankful that I didn't crack open my skull on that day. It would have been a totally different story if I had.

The same thing happened to me my friend about two weeks ago to the day. I am thankful that I didn’t die or my head didn’t crack open. I’m having the exact same problems you are must be the same part of the brain. I feel like it get better some days and then other days I forget what day it is which is crazy. I’m just going to have to relearn short term memory and relearn time saving skills. I believe this part of the brain is The same thing happened to me my friend about two weeks ago to the day. I am thankful that I didn’t die or my head didn’t crack open. I’m having the exact same problem as you are must be the same part of the brain. I feel like it get better some days and then other days I forget what day it is which is crazy. I’m just going to have to relearn short-term memory and relearn time saving skills. I believe this part of the brain is located there.

I hit the right part on my forehead is the sharp pointed corner of a car hood. It hurt a lot and I thought I was bleeding but wasn’t. I know it’s gonna hurt for a few days but it feels like the right side of my brain is hurting. And my vision seems to be messing with me. I can’t tell if it’s just me or something serious. I have no health insurance and don’t know what I should do. My lady thinks it’s not a big deal but this feels different

I got hit on the head by a roller coaster door because the man accidentally hit the wrong button , I brushed it off but cried later and felt sick , i have had headaches ever since and my head feels like it’s indented I haven’t done anything about it it’s been a while and idk what’s up.

Go to the doctor to get checked out friend.

I had a tree limb fall on me didn't black out just kinda dazed off and got dizzy quick went to the ER and they said I had a low concussion which I thought it was bs but I mean there doctors they're trained for this anyway he said I was fine but it's been 2 weeks and I feel tightness and pressure on my head and neck and my eyes feel sore and started breathing heavily and feeling like I can't catch my breath also been feeling super nauseous but never really throw up and feel depressed from time to time and have severe anxiety attacks also is this normal

Time to see a neurologist. You may have pressure on your cerebellum or brain stem. Hi thee to a doctor, ASAP!

On January 8 I was in a terrible rear end accident. Isustaa concussion with bleeding on the brain. As of the last CT Scan, the bleeding was still there. On April 3 I slipped in water at a hotel and fell on my back and hit my head. Can Nyone tell me whether the bleeding will reabsorb. It’s now 3 months and one week. Please someone rest. I am 67.

I'm a 57 year old women who has had 5 concussions in my lifetime. Two within six months. The Neurologist could not diagnose what was wrong, I've had confusion, dizziness, tired all the time, can't concentrate, seizures, weakness. Finally my physical therapist suggesteded it was concussion sydrome. Its been a year! Will it ever get better?

yes it will

I was in a bad relationship and probably had up to 4-5 concussions . It’s been 4 yrs I’ve been away from him. Can those old ones cause problems now? I’m having speech problems. And vision problems. I had a MRI. The doctor said no stroke but then showed me 4 spots on my brain and chalked it up to nothing. The one spot is on the speech area the Broca’s area. Thank you

On four separate occasions from September, 2018 to February, 2019 I was knocked to the concrete floor by jail guards, or by slipping on newly wet-mopped floors. I was diagnosed with a concussion after the first incident and my symptoms have increasingly worsened since then, e.g. dizziness, constant headache, greatly reduced hearing and eyesight, lethargy, confusion, impotence and a host of other ailments. My condition today is worse than its ever been. I've never sued anyone in my 64 year old life but am considering doing so. I just ran into one of the jail nurses in the public library and she told me she thinks I have a good case against the jail and the medical unit and will testify for me. Does this sort of lawsuit have a decent success rate? If so, how soon should I pursue it?

Several years ago my son was playing basketball and fell hitting the back of his head on the hardwood however got right up and continued playing. Nothing was ever done, I found out by viewing film of the incident. He has never been seen nor does he want to be. He does sometimes get very frustrated and loses his temper and has headaches that can sometimes be intense. Can this type injury have a long term effect that gets worst if not attended to?

I fell on top of my head and it was a mild concussion. Didn't knock out or anything but its been a week and I still have headaches and if someone says a sentence to me, I cannot repeat it back. I feel 10 times dumber and I was wondering when I am able to exercising and such

Please see a doctor. These are definitely signs of a concussion.

I fell very hard forward onto cement. I don't remember hitting the cement. Was knocked out for a few seconds. When I opened my eyes I was face down on the ground. My doctor says I have whiplash. I had knee surgery from the fall. Have been going to physical therapy since for back neck knee and ankle. But know one seems to take me serious when I say I think I have a Concussion. I have a lot of the symptoms. I read where whiplash is a big symptom for concussion. My family have been noticing that I act different. I have horrible headaches.
I cry all the time for no reason. And more symptoms. I don't know what to do. Vicki

God bless you. You will be in my prayers. I know it's awful but hang in there - some or all of this will recede with time. I took a nasty fall into my bathtub face down last night - seem to have a mild concussion and was very confused at first re the shower bench, shower curtain, rug etc... I am grateful it was not worse like yours. Loving prayers for a full recovery.

My 11 year old daughter fell and hit the back of her head on a table, she blacked out for a bit. The dr said it was a mild concussion. She didn’t do much activity for 2-3 weeks then got running around again. We noticed she had a hard time catching her breath, she wouldn’t be doing anything but felt like she couldn’t get a good breath. That and when she was running in basketball she felt lightheaded during and had a headache after. She sat out a couple more weeks. Now she’s back into it and the breathing issues are back. Do I let her continue- the issues will go away eventually, or take her back to the dr?

I am 24 years old and have just suffered my 4th concussion from standing up under kitchen countertop quickly when the dog barked and hitting my head at a weird angle I just wanted to let everyone know that these small and often embarrassing incidences can also cause problems you should be aware of and it doesn’t have to be from a large traumatic event as the countertop has caused the worst effects to me personally. My other concussions where from playing high school football and getting hit by a drunk driver head on driving down the opposite side of the road. Trust me that things do get better I have previously had symptoms for months that I thought would become my new reality that began to fade away until they weren’t noticeable anymore. Also a PSA to teach your dog not to bark bc one day he might scare the shit out of you over a squirrel and you could crack your melon on a table like myself. If you just read this somber yet realistic article remember that these are possiblities not necessarily your reality and that a positive attitude will make a world of difference.

On February 22, 2017, I slipped on ice and hit my head on a concrete step. My Apple Watch showed a significant drop in my heart rate until it couldn’t register anymore. I couldn’t move my body but I wasn’t unconscious. I knew I was knocked out because I heard my head’s hollow echo upon impact like cracking a coconut. I remember everything. I knew when my heart stopped and that I needed to get back to my body or risk dying. There was a six minute delay from when my watch registered the last beat to when I woke up. So I guess I was dead for about 4 minutes. I woke and saw stars like Bugs Bunny and my eyes hurt. I was dizzy, disoriented and in a rush to get to work. I went to the hospital later in the day and they said I had a very minor concussion. Since then, I’ve had severe anxiety, mood swings, memory gaps, depression, and a breakdown of my executive brain functions. I feel like my spirit came back to the wrong body. This one has malfunctions I never had to deal with before. Having an understanding of how much longer I have to endure this system failure is both comforting and depressing. At least now I know that this may never get better and to just accept what I cannot change so that I can focus on what I can effectively manage.

Not a minor concussion. If you lost any consciousness even for second that's a level 3 concussion. I just had one 2 days ago. First ever. I'm foggy, having a hard time concentrating, and feel lightly drunk. Yours sounds worse than mine. Get a specialist involved.

that is NOT MINOR.i hope you definitely saw someone else

After a fall and getting a concussion. After 2-3 months is it normal for the area to regain a bump and soreness?

I’m really sad and pissed right now after reading this because some time long ago at recess when I was like in 1st grade I tripped over construction that you could hardly see at school and hit my head on cement and was knocked out.

No one did anything. I woke up right there where I was when I knocked out, and I’m also super pissed that the teachers did nothing, so I told them and they sent me to nurse and nurse gave me a sticker that says “I’m bumped my head”, like wtf is that going to do, anyways I was having really bad headaches, dizziness, blurry vision, etc.

When I got home, I told my mom and she told me to lie on the couch so I did and then she waited for like 4 hours until actually taking me to the doctor.

I was really drowsy and tired and I asked if I could sleep, she said “No, you can’t” and now that I read that after a concussion you should get sleep, it made me mad how I used the rest of the little bit of energy I had to keep awake.

Anyways, thank you for telling us about this.

I'm 15 I hit the back of my head on the floor and my basketball game very hard... They said they hurd it in the stands... Now it's like I'm normal but not I'm moving show and I'm crying silently or sad I try to stay happy I feel like a light plus and it hurts but it doesn't hurt like it did yesterday what should I do and I have game Friday coming up don't want to let the team down

I understand im a college volleyball player that recently went through something similar. Your brain is more important that one game. Your teammates and coaches will understand.

As a child, 4-6 years of age, my Grandfather was very abusive toward me( I remember it all). What he did to get me to behave is to throw his work boot right at my head, I would catch the heel of it every time, I remember this like yesterday, this happened everyday. Physically what happened is, I blacked-out, and saw stars, I felt my head spinning, the worst was it hurt because I could breath and gasping for air. Fast-Forward to my school years, I had behavior problems, I remember instances of my bad behavior toward teachers and classmates. I remember being locked up in this padded cell until I calmed down, not realizing why I was there. Referred to a school for special needs kids because I was slow at speech and had hearing /comprehension difficulties. Fast forward to Jr high and High school years and looking back, I had academic trouble, I had poor grades, and couldn’t relate social with my peers. I skipped a lot of details but in conclusion, did the abuse I received have irreparable damage, I’m Middle Aged now and I feel inferior, can’t hold a job, and no career, I can be proud of, just a stocker at walmart

I know I can never understand how bad you feel about how things have turned out because of the actions of your grandparent but don't let that stop you from trying to move forward. It can be like your own lil' payback. Find a support group or maybe a specialist that can help you with the issues. And you can start trying to accomplish goals that you want . Maybe try starting a business , become an entrepreneur or even start or join a foundation that helps put a stop to child abuse. Just something you would be proud of start working actively towards it and life may just surprise you. I know I'm an absolute stranger. Just thought I should tell you what I was compelled to.

I suffer "side effects" while at Niagara Falls.

Since my TBI four years ago I have visited the falls 3 times and each time I go there the same thing happens. I get Dizzy, confused, off balance, Nausea and disoriented. This effect if I stay too long will last me a few days.

Does anyone else feel this way?

Hi I'm kaitlyn and I'm 18 in my life I have had three concussions, one when in was 3, 6, and 17. I was wondering does it cause hearing problems I feel like through the years they have just been getting worse, I have difficulty concentrating, I lose my balance sometimes, I have difficulty remembering new information and trouble sleeping and falling asleep is all that long term effects from the concussions.

Everything besides the hearing part your going thru I went thru and still have short term memory loss. That's why its hard for new to absorb anything new as its hard to concentrate one and two its hard for ur brain to hold it if it does. Feel free to message back anytime cause its good to have someone who understands this.

I fell and hit my head and had a mild concussion and six weeks later I still wake up with foggy vision and have it throughout the day. I see ziggly lines when I turn my head a certain way still hurts. Test came back fine. Is there anything out there to help at least a little?

With any head trauma get your neck looked at. My c1 was dislocated for almost 3 years after seeing specialist after specialist and no one ever looked at my neck.

I fell 8' off the adder onto my concrete drive. Grade 3 concussion. Its been 6 weeks and at times the dizzy seems like its worse. Also whip lash and broken clavicle etc. So the head is the worse. How long?

That level concussion it could be months or even a year or possibly more that I hate to say.

I sustained a serious concussion in a bike accident when I was knocked out for 40 minutes and taken unconscious to the hospital. I woke up in the emergency room. 

I find I have to be careful on how much I do as I can quickly develop a headache and suffer quite badly at times with blurred vision and also used to have dizzy spells the worst of which was when I went to the bathroom one day and the next thing I know, I was on the floor with the room spinning around fast.

The first 3 to 4 months after my accident were very dark days indeed with mood swings, hospital visits and sorting out all the legal implications of the accident. I would have constant flashbacks of the moment of the accident which would no go away.  I found if difficult to concentrate and take on ordinary things in life like going back to work after quite a long time off and sometimes just talking to people. It was like being in a fog, to be honest. Fortunately, with time things moved on, and now I am able to live a better life again.

A concussion isn't always just a physical injury but can have far greater implication as I found out. 

Do you have crying spells. I find myself crying alot every day for 6mts since my concussion was diagnosis. I'm trying hard to get the right help in treatment.

For about six months after I got a concussion, I was super emotional, and would cry at the drop of a hat. This was totally out of character for me. It eventually eased up, and I'm pretty much back to baseline.

I hope you find the right treatment for your concussion. Depending on the severity of your Concussion it can take time for “emotional equilibrium” to return again to your life. I became more emotional for a time after my serious concussion as its not just the physical injury but it can have effects on your way of thinking and your mood. Medication might help.
This year I have managed for the first time properly to return to the scene of my terrible accident I had when I was knocked off my bike and Knocked Unconscious and I woke up in hospital.
Strangely enough although I “welled up” I couldn’t CRY. I don’t know why but I felt with the passage of time I had learnt to deal with to some extent with the “emotional and psychological difficulties and trauma” of the event.
You can’t put a timeline on these things and can only hope the recovery process continues for you.

me too brutha

I got lumped up pretty good and got diagnosed with a concussion 12 days ago. They ran a scan and said no skull fractures or bleeding. My symptoms aren’t quite as bad but I still have the burning feeling in the back of my scalp and at times feels like my head is on fire. I still stay dizzy on a regular basis and constantly have to lay down to regain myself. I cleaned my ears with q-tips and found dried blood from both ears. Obviously got a little concerned so have been reading up on stuff. All of my symptoms seem normal except nothing on the dried blood. Any suggestions besides continue to bother my doctors office? Thanks for any advice.

I have the same burning in my brain as well after a concussion from being a back seat passenger in my friend's car. We were stopped waiting for a pedestrian walking in front of us. We were struck from behind. I hit the back of the front passenger seat and then was thrown back to my back seat.
Instant whiplash. Massive headaches still seven weeks later.

The doctor said I had a concussion. I went back to work and tried to have a normal life. Three weeks later, I lost my vision in both eyes at work. I was very dizzy, nauseous, feeling weak and ready to pass out. They called the ambulance because they said my body was in distress (blood pressure was  215/112) They rushed me the ER and my CT scan showed two mini-strokes. Wow, really? I was in shock.

After xrays, MRI, vascular tests and halter monitor for three days. They sent me home to go to my primary care physician to refer me to a neurologist. They did a very painful electrical testing of my brain and another MRI. He said no mini strokes now. But my BH is now normal. They gave lots of meds (brain nerve block, pain meds, headaches meds, anxiety meds, migraine meds too). Thank God!!

After seven weeks, I'm still having bad headaches on the left side of my head and into my temple. I'm on lots of meds. So why is this not helping?

I also feel burning like on fire in the back and top of brain. Sharp pain periodically in different areas in my brain when just doing some walking around. This is getting way too scary. Twitting body, having a hard time walking now, etc.

Now it has turned into TBI... PTSD symptoms the doctor said now. I keep seeing the accident, crying, not feeling myself at all anymore. I can't go to work anymore, can't go grocery shopping, can't drive with all these symptoms or prescribed meds, etc.

I called an attorney. They are sending me to a chiropractor for treatment. They are worried as well. They don't want to make matters any worse. Getting all the films from all the doctors and hospital to look everything all over. We shall see...hope this helps...

Prayers for everyone dealing with these horrific head injuries. I'm looking for relief soon. When will it all end?!!

Hope brain doctors read this too. We all need help...

I was at a Doct appt and started getting a severe headache, she said let me try something she gave me oxygen it helped within a few minutes! It helps alot try it, we get headaches pain from alot of things but lack of proper oxygen, is a big culprit!

Read *The Ghost in my Brain* by Clark Elliott. He's a neurologist and had a concussion and found help that returned his brain to working order.

I had a severe injury.... I blacked out and fell off of the top of 4 concret steps head-first onto more concrete, broke my nose, went to ER, doctor looked at my hands.... No marks from trying to break my fall.... This was about 5 years ago and I'm noticing I can't do things I used to do.....?

May I ask what things your not able to do as you once could before? For example write properly, hard to recall or learn new things?