By: Kiley Como with Shane Smith Law
When the medical emergency ends, most people assume the worst is over. The scans are done. The surgeries are behind you. The rehab plan is in motion. On the outside, it may even look like life is settling down.
But for many brain injury survivors, that is when a different kind of battle begins. One that is quieter, more isolating, and often harder for other people to see.
In this episode of Mind Matters, Kiley Como continues her conversation with brain injury survivor and advocate Trevor Turner to explore what happens after the immediate crisis passes. Trevor opens up about living with the long-term effects of a ruptured AVM, including paralysis, double vision, fatigue, anxiety, and the mental health toll that can linger for decades after the initial injury.
The Symptoms That Do Not Go Away
Today, he still lives with symptoms that affect daily life, including:
- Left-sided paralysis and reduced sensation
- Double vision
- Fatigue
- Tingling and sensory changes
- Anxiety related to the possibility of another medical event
These are the kinds of symptoms that often go unseen by the outside world. A person may look healthy, but still be working every day to manage the physical and neurological consequences of a severe brain injury.
The Fear That Something Could Happen Again
When you have already lived through a life-threatening brain event, every headache, strange sensation, or flare in symptoms can trigger that old fear. Trevor explains that over the years, if his left side feels more tingly than usual or if something feels off, his mind can still jump to the possibility that something is wrong again.
What has helped him manage that anxiety is perspective. It has now been more than 25 years since his surgery, and reminding himself that his AVM was treated successfully has helped him gradually trust his body again.
That does not erase the fear completely. It simply helps him keep it in context.
What “New Normal” Really Means
For survivors, new normal does not mean giving up. It means learning how to live well within the reality of a changed body and brain.
Trevor explains that some symptoms, like tingling or sensory changes, are now simply part of daily life. They may be frustrating, but they no longer automatically mean danger. Learning to accept those sensations without panic is part of adapting to life after injury.
That kind of adjustment is not easy. It takes time, repetition, and often a lot of emotional work.
Mental Health Recovery Matters Too
He shares that while physical rehabilitation happened early, it took much longer for him to recognize how much support he needed for anxiety and mental health. In his case, that realization did not fully come until after college and into adulthood.
For Trevor, learning meditation was a turning point. It gave him a way to calm his nervous system, manage anxious thoughts, and feel more in control of his internal world without always relying on medication.
His message is clear: brain injury recovery is not just about regaining movement or speech. It is also about learning how to care for your mind after trauma.
The Habits That Help Him Function
The habits that have made the biggest difference for him include:
- Regular meditation
- Exercise four times a week
- A healthy diet
- Staying hydrated
- Getting quality sleep
- Spending time outside and walking
These may sound simple, but in the context of brain injury, they can be powerful. They support not just physical function, but mood, energy, stress regulation, and overall resilience.
What Survivors Ask Most Often
- Will I ever feel normal again?
- Can I work again?
- Will I have friendships and relationships again?
- How do I deal with the anxiety and depression that came with this?
Trevor says he almost always starts with mental health, because if anxiety and depression are left unaddressed, everything else becomes harder.
From there, he helps survivors find resources, support groups, treatment options, and most importantly, a sense that they are not alone in what they are experiencing.
Brain Talk and Brain Rebellion
His mission is to offer a different kind of support, one that is honest, practical, and focused on what comes after the hospital and therapy appointments end.
It is not just about surviving brain injury. It is about learning how to live with it.
What Families, Friends, and Employers Need to Understand
He wants families, friends, and employers to understand that just because someone looks fine on the outside does not mean they are not struggling. Brain injury survivors may be dealing with:
- Fatigue that is hard to explain
- Sensory overload
- Emotional swings
- Anxiety and frustration
- Cognitive challenges that make work and daily life harder than they appear
Compassion matters. Patience matters. Asking what someone needs instead of assuming they are okay can make a real difference.
He also encourages survivors to be honest with employers about their disability when appropriate, especially if accommodations or legal protections may be needed.
A Message for Survivors Who Feel Isolated
There are resources available. There are support groups. There are professionals and fellow survivors who understand what you are going through. But no one can step in if they do not know you need support.
He encourages survivors to become their own advocates, seek out the right tools, and stay engaged in the process of recovery, even when it is hard.
Final Thoughts
Trevor’s story is a reminder that those challenges are real, and that mental health support, daily habits, advocacy, and community can all play a major role in helping survivors move forward.
If you or someone you love is living with the long-term effects of a brain injury, you do not have to navigate it alone.
In pain, call Shane. 980-999-9999
Shane Smith Law is committed to helping injury victims understand both the medical and legal realities that come after life-changing trauma.
Related Post:
A Brain Bleed at 14: Surviving an AVM, Relearning Life, and Finding Purpose After Brain Injury
