Self abuse, brain injury? Damage? [Archive] - HealthBoards Message Boards

pppp4444

07-20-2008, 01:29 AM

When I was little, like 5-17 or so (i'm 26 now). I used to self abuse by ramming my head into the wall, beating my head with my fists, beating a book on my forehead as hard as I could. Well, I don't want to ask a doc out of embarassement, but do you think that I oculd have damaged myself permanently? Like can cause anerisms or brain damage or alzhiermers or something? I have a thicker skull build up on one side of my forehead, I think because I had abused myself. I never knocked myself out, but I would bruise myself and give myself headaches, and a few times got "goose eggs" or "knots" on my forehead and head.

I worry now that maybe I have just made myself worse, but I was too young to understand what I was doing to myself! What do you think?

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negot

07-21-2008, 08:09 PM

I honestly don't think that you have done any permanent physical damage to yourself. I have two kids and both of them used to slam their heads into the wall. It was very stressful to see, but it is not uncommon. My friends have told me their kids did the same. They stopped doing it at age 4 or so. A human being can endure a lot before becoming physically damaged. I am glad though that you don't harm yourself any longer. Take care!

pppp4444

07-22-2008, 02:22 AM

THanks for your response, it makes me feel a little less worried. I called up the insurance company if they would pay for some of the MRI, like some people suggested, but they don't until I pay the deducatble or something which is really high. I don't really understand it the insurance stuff. Thanks for everyone's responses.

negot

07-22-2008, 09:31 PM

You are welcome. I want to ask you why you are worried that you've caused yourself permanent damage? What is your worry based on? I also wanted to tell you about a case that was in the papers a few years ago. It was so awful that I remember it clearly. A family was traveling in the car with their 3 year old son. As they crossed a freeway overpass some (evil) person threw a rock on their car. The rock hit the boy in the head and shattered his skull. It took a few surgeries and time, but I read that the boy recovered. As I said in my previous post, a human being can tolerate a lot before becoming damaged. Look also at some poor infants who are abused, but make it, at least physically. Again, take care.

mimgregg

08-11-2008, 02:43 AM

Hi, when you self abused, was it from age of 5-17? over a 12 year period? Did you do it a lot? I assume you are asking because you are experiencing problems or are worried about down the road problems. It depends on whether or not you were a chronic abuser and how much cellular damage may have been caused if it was frequent and long term. Hope this adds more information to consider.
Mim Gregg

wrenegade

08-23-2008, 02:34 PM

I'm not trying to be negative, but I did see a program on public television with a Dr. Daniel Amens who is a clinical neuroscientist and psychiatrist and he spoke about the very topic of how underdiagnosed brain trauma from seemingly "mild" injuries is. He said that it is because the boney plates that form the skull have sharp edges inside and the brain is a soft tofu/curd like texture and therefore susceptible to injury if it comes in contact with the rough edges. His book Change Your Brain Change Your Life has a lot of good information in it. He uses SPECT scans to show where areas of too much or little activity are occurring in the brain.

Like I said, I'm not trying to be negative or scare anyone, but finding out what is wrong is a great place to start. I wish I could afford the SPECT scans myself. Dr. Amen offers a lot of hope that even serious disorders can be corrected.

Best wishes,
wren