Can shaking your head up and down cause brain damage?

Posted , 3 users are following.

Two days ago I was shaking my head up and down many times (I do that when I have a panic attack), and now I'm scared I've damaged my brain... I'm scared I've got a brain bleed or something... I can't think clearly, I have brain fog and I feel like I'm dead... Do you think I've damaged my brain? Do you think you can damage your brain if you shake your head too much?

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2 Replies

  • Posted

    remember that stress and anxiety can also cause a feeling of brain fog and not thinking clearly. It’s a shaking of the head would have to be quite violent to cause any damage. There is cerebrospinal fluid that protects the brain from hitting the skull. It would have to be something major like a car accident or similar to cause brain damage.

  • Edited

    Hi, Anne!

    I don't think you have damaged your brain because of these movements because, except in very rare cases, an adult shaking their head doesn't usually cause more than a contusion on the neck ( see headbangers at metal concerts 😃 )

    Anyway, it would be interesting to talk to your psychologist about this habit of yours to try to reduce or extinguish it in order to avoid any accidents (be it hitting your head somewhere or injuring your neck).

    About your symptoms, I think you should also take this to your psychologist, because it is probably due to anxiety.

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