📌 TIMESTAMPS

Real Talk Unfiltered

00:00 - Introduction: The Connected Crisis

We need to talk about pain, focus, and breath, and how discovering they're the same problem with the same solution changed everything

01:07 - The Questions That Changed My Perspective

How do I handle pain with breath work. How do I keep focus with sensory overload? These seemed like different problems I was wrong

02:34 - What Is Going On Inside of Me

I have Left Temporal Brain Damage, with Emotional Regulation Problems, Memorie lost, and Sensory Overloads. And the 24 hour pains

04:40 - The Research Rabbit Hole

Month 20 after my accident, still trying to understand why my brain was glitching daily. Nobody explained why everything felt disconnected yet connected

06:35 - The Left Temporal Discovery

Left temporal lobe injury where language, emotions, and sensory filtering live When damaged, it's like a computer virus corrupting multiple programs

07:52 - The Hemisphere Disruption

My left and right brain trying to dance to different songs. One hyperactive, one under-active. Pain wasn't just physical - my nervous system was stuck in permanent alarm mode

11:03 - The Breakthrough Realisation

Interconnection symptom clusters: Pain amplifies focus problems. Focus problems increase emotional dysregulation. And the Emotional dysregulation makes the pain worst It's one broken system, manifesting and reacting in three reactions

12:20 - Rishikesh Breakthrough

India, lying in bed after yoga, crying quietly. My teacher mentioned nervous system regulation through breath. Desperation led to breakthrough

12:26 - The 1-4-2 Breathing Discovery

Breathe in for 4, pauze for 16, exhale for 8. First time since my accident I could focus on just two thing without seventeen other inputs

17:14 - The Three Game-Changing Techniques

After that breakthrough, I became focused on breath work. These aren't just breathing exercises - they are my neurological medicine

19:00 - Modified Nadi Shodhana

Thumb closes right nostril, breathe in left 4 , close the nose with your left ring finger hold for 8, exhale right 6. Each nostril connects to opposite brain hemisphere

23:52 - Modified Bhramari

Thumbs in ears, fingers over eyes and face, hum like a bee. Vagal toning, brain tissue massage, reduces inflammation.

28:28 - Daily Application System

Knowing techniques vs. applying them in real life My morning system assessment and pain management protocols

31:41 - Morning Pain Protocol & Early Warning System

Squinting eyes, thousand-yard stare, then pain wave The moment I recognise this sequence, I NEED TO STOP

34:18 - Focus & Sensory Overload Management

Micro resets every 20 minutes small breathing practice

30 minute work blocks. Social situations drain brains of people with a TBI, bathroom break to resets

41:30 - The Science Behind Why It Works

Neuroplasticity in action. Understanding WHY changers the HOW Controlled neurological input teaches damaged brains new patterns. Chemical and electrical rebalancing

44:00 - Critical Recovery Points

Start slowly, consistency beats intensity, listen to your system, track responses Your injured brain might feel overwhelmed initially

45:19 - Redefining Control

Control isn't making everything go back. It's working with reality instead of fighting a fake reality Pain is still there, but I can breathe through it

46:52 - It I’sn’t about positive thinking or pretending everything is fine

Your breathing can help you Teach your brain new pathways in your brain Remember it won’t always work, but thats fine It’s how we react to it that matters

49:08 - Closing: Your Breath is Always Accessible

I'm not saying breath-work cures brain injuries. Your breath is the one thing always available

51:30 - Sometimes the Solution isn’t Multiple Treatments

Sometimes it Just One Thing that brings you the Solution, listen to your body and to what your brain needs

Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional

This is all my personal experience as I live with my TBI

We Need To Talk - My Story: When My Brain Said STOP

Before my TBI, hustling until 10 PM was normal. I believed rest was earned — not needed.

Then my brain collapsed.

This is the truth about Traumatic Brain Injury fatigue: why it’s not exhaustion, why ‘pushing through’ destroys me, and how my son’s recognition of my neurological crash (when others saw attitude) became proof I needed radical change.

Rest isn’t weakness, it’s survival."

📌Timestamps: - Unlearning Old Habits

00:00 - Introduction: The Rest Lies We Believe

"We need to talk about rest... What if everything you thought you knew about rest was actually keeping you from healing!”

01:15 - Unlearning: "Rest is Earned, Not Needed"

"The old me believed fatigue could be conquered with willpower... Society tells us productivity equals worth. My brain injury forced me to unlearn this."

03:15 - TBI Fatigue: What People Get WRONG

"It's NOT laziness. It's NOT exhaustion you can push through. My brain runs on 10% battery trying to run high demand programs. This is neurological NOT physiological.”

05:15 - My Reality: When Your Brain Short Circuits

"98% of TBI survivors experience one form of fatigue. It's a ripple effect: damaged areas force your brain to work harder, burning energy faster. Simple tasks become detours around collapsed bridges."

07:22 - Recognising the Crash: My Body's Shutdown Signals

"Squinting eyes... staring into nothingness... and the shutdown. This is 'pathological mental fatigue' my brain saying 'NO MORE.' On of my resets is my 1-4-2 breathing technique."

09:17 - The Breaking Point: New Year's Eve in LA

"Pushing through led to disaster: a plain flight, a party, a guessing game, and a neurological shutdown. Adults saw attitude; my son saw the crash. That night, I broke. The 'push-through' person had to die."

13:35 - Recovery Truth: Healing Isn't Linear

"Monday: conquer the world. Tuesday: crushed by a phone call. This isn't failure, it's your brain rebuilding. Your capacity changes daily. Work with it."

15:10 - Unlearning Urgency: Rest Can't Wait

"I had to stop scheduling rest like a meeting. When the crash comes, it doesn't care about your plans. Fighting it extends recovery. I learned to respond earlier.”

16:16 - My New Rest Rituals (Part 1): Micro-Resets

1. One-Minute Stillness Break: Stop. Breathe. Do nothing. Permission granted.
2. My 1-4-2 Breathing: Inhale (6s) → Pause || Hold (24s) → Exhale (12s). 10-20 reps until I un-crash….This resets your parasympathatic nervous system."

18:08 - My New Rest Rituals (Part 2): Body & Awareness

3. Heat || Cold Grounding: Ice cubes, cold water, hot (warm) shower to shock your system to focus.
4. Nervous System Journaling: Track body signals & triggers. Build your early warning system.

5. The Protection Question: 'What will resting NOW protect me from? And my answers to this question.

20:27 - Redefining Rest: It’s Not Just Sleep

"Silence. Closing your eyes for 5 minutes. Removing stimulation. Meditation || Yoga. Even gentle exercise builds stamina. Rest is active neurological care."

21:30 - For Loved Ones: How to Truly Support Us

"When we say we need rest: BELIEVE US. Don’t push 'one more game.' Help us find a quiet spot. This is medical selfcare for a chronic condition. A hug helps a lot too.”

24:00 - The Hope: Rest is Resistance

"Rest makes me STRONGER. I honour pre-crashes now. My peace matters more than your pace. To the 27 million new TBI survivors yearly:

You are not alone.

Your brain knows. Listen.

Join the conversation: #howsilencehelpedme #WeNeedToTalk #rest #realtalkunfiltered #TBI #InvisibleBattles #HealingJourney #TBISurvivor

To anyone fighting silent battles:

You are not your trauma.

Not your worst day.

You're the space where healing happens.

! Disclaimer: I'm not a medical professional.

This is all my personal experience as I live with my TBI.

Keep dancing in the rain like nobody is watching.

Talk again soon.