The Injured Brain + Stimulants: Part 2
As a result of my passion and curiosity to better understand the actual neuroscience of brain injury + stimulants, I went on a quest for deeper understanding…
As I tried to better understand professional colleagues and other health guru’s opinions, I found that I was underwhelmed and unimpressed with the lack of knowledge. I wasn’t met with the confidence of that pediatric neuropsychologist; in fact, I wasn’t met with much.
Frustrated at the lack of knowledge pertaining to brain injury + stimulants, I decided to take it into my own hands. I devoured podcasts and books about brain injuries, neurodivergence, and psychopharmacology. I became highly trained in ADHD and stimulant medication. I poured over less-known parts of how the neurodivergent brain worked. I learned the hidden traits, subtle characteristics, and passive effects. From there, I tied the similarities and differences to brain injury/post concussive syndrome to this, because the presentation is so similar. I continued to weave this clinical picture. I then went about learning the neuroscience of stimulant medications; trying to find the biological and chemical reason this neuropsychologist said this.
After months of hyper-fixation on this topic, I came up for air when I finally found another article and research abstract suggesting those with brain injuries & post-concussive syndromes may benefit greatly from stimulant medications. I breathed a bit deeper once I understood the disruption of dopamine, serotonin, melatonin, and norepinephrine in those with injured brains. And I breathed even deeper once I understood how stimulant medications aided in these processes.
(Sidenote: I am no specific expert; I am not a prescribing provider. I am not a true neuroscientist, even though I study it almost daily. I am quite likely the most curious person you’ve met. I am a research enthusiast (my double major in college, btw), who can’t stop until something makes sense. To a fault. When I hear a topic that immediately and easily makes sense, I commit myself to finding the bigger “why” behind it. I like to stay true to my natural skepticism, meaning my inherent belief that most life-altering things shouldn’t come easy and if it’s too good to be true; it probably is.
Then I received a final piece of validation to support the pediatric neuropsychologist and other like-minded articles, when my longtime colleague attended a CTE/brain injury training, by an MD that specializes in the research, science, and treatment of those with brain injuries. In one slide it simply and boldly stated how beneficial stimulant medications are for those with brain injuries. (Cue, lightbulb moment for some. And pure blissful validity for me.)
I have many, many stories of brain-Injured clients and post-concussive patients, that have taken my curiosity and ran straight to their doctor/provider asking. Many have been prescribed a stimulant medication and returned to our next session with a true “ah-ha” moment of their own. Many have described a quality of life change they couldn’t imagine otherwise.
Mind you, there is little magic in medicine or health. There are seldomly long-term quick fixes or magic bullets. However, when you are paralyzed by the negative side effects of an injured brain; a stimulant can be described as “magic” …..especially if you have suffered long enough.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I don’t prescribe, and I am grateful I don’t. There are many behaviors and characteristics to consider that might make stimulants contraindicated for you. Furthermore, medications are not being promoted as the only method of improvement. Brain injuries and post-concussive syndromes require a collaborative approach involving multiple therapies as well. Talk to your medical team; seek your own information; and be informed. You are your own best advocate.
Note: I use “injured brain” as inclusive of all levels of brain injury and post-concussive syndromes.
Written by:
Ashley Olsen, MSW, LCSW
Founder/Owner of The Praxis Group
