Concussion-induced autonomic dysregulation

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]After a concussion, a lot of patients describe feeling constantly on edge or overwhelmed easily or they can't relax or they're just always ready for something to happen. That's not anxiety, that's your autonomic nervous system working poorly. Your brainstem controls your fight or flight responses and after a concussion, it can get locked into a state of high alert even when there's no threat. So, your heart beats faster, your body stays tense, sounds feel like alarms, bright lights feel like daggers.

[00:00:24]How could you not be anxious or on edge with all that happening? Your brain isn't being dramatic, it's doing exactly what a dysregulated nervous system does.

[00:00:32]The goal of treatment isn't to manage that feeling, it's to get your nervous system out of survival mode for good.