mild Traumatic Brain Injury - Afterdeployment.org

Almost
70%
of people
with
Concussions
reported
mental
fatigue.
1.2.3.2 Fatigue (cont.)
Fatigue is very common and occurs in almost one-quarter of all people who haven't had a concussion.
Following a deployment, fatigue may result from many different causes, including mood or adjustment
difficulties, medications, physical problems, or changes in daily patterns.
Not only is fatigue affected by other symptoms, it also can make other problems worse. When tired,
thinking will be slower, memory capacity and level of concentration will decrease, and mood will be
negatively impacted. Feeling extremely tired can actually make it more difficult to sleep, which can
make symptoms even worse.
QUICK TIPS FOR FATIGUE
Recognize the triggers of fatigue. Take note if certain people, places, situations or activities
are more likely to trigger fatigue. Remember that fatigue can be related to emotions such as sadness
or anger.
Keep an eye out for negative thinking and giving up. Replace negative thoughts with more
reasonable ones. Instead of thinking "I'll never get my energy back," think "I can slowly work back
up to where my energy was before."
Sleep well. Follow a consistent sleep schedule, including the weekends. Plan to get eight hours
of sleep (or more), and get to bed near to the same time every evening. Don't nap during the day
if it keeps you from sleeping at night.
Maintain healthy habits. Exercise daily, eat a healthy diet, and avoid caffeine (including energy
drinks), alcohol, drugs, and smoking.
Manage your schedule. Plan a daily schedule and prioritize your activities so that you do the
most important and difficult things first. If you begin to feel fatigued, you will have already completed
the most difficult tasks