Hypersensitivity. Lights are too bright. Noise is too loud. You avoid certain places because they are just too uncomfortable. Painful even. Sure, some people are naturally more sensitive than others. But why, with MTBI, is this such a problem?

Another concept from Psych 101! Remember "adaptation"? Here's what's normal: You walk in to a crowded bar on Friday night. You's first impression: "Whoa, it's loud in here!" But rather quickly your brain adjusts. The background noise morphs almost to silence as you focus on a conversation with your friends.

What has happened is that your brain has decided it doesn't have to pay attention to the "noise". It has automatically, quickly, screened out information which isn't immediately relevant. But, wait, there's more! The mental antennae are out: what if something relevant happens? Your name is mentioned in the crowd. Something interesting is said in the group next to you. Your brain is on the lookout for interesting tidbits, almost as if it has a list of what you need to be notified about. When that happens, your attention will shift, bring the morsel out of the soup up to the surface without letting everything else in.

What if this automatic filtering process doesn't happen because the brain isn't processing information as quickly and efficiently? This is precisely the issue with MTBI. The result: overstimulation. People with MTBI often find they have to avoid some places or situations because this basic brain function, adaptation, doesn't occur.

The good news is that it should get better with time and you can do things to manage the problem. The first step is to understand why it's happening.