Any type of injury to the brain, such as stroke, concussion, or traumatic brain injury, is a unique injury in that everything you knew about yourself can become suddenly rewritten. Your passions, your memories, your very essence—altered by a single event. This is the reality faced by many who have experienced a brain injury. In the wake of such a life-altering event, the importance of finding a sense of self becomes an integral part of the recovery journey.
A brain injury can strip away layers of your identity. It’s not just about the physical or cognitive challenges; it’s about the profound changes in your personalities and self-perception. Perhaps you were the “breadwinner,” for the family and now you have not been able to return to work. Maybe, your identity was built on being full of energy and helping others, and now you find that you become fatigued and do not want to be around others. People who have experienced an injury to their brain may feel like they have lost some fundamental part of themselves.
Changes to self following an injury to the brain are complex, not readily observable and easily missed in rehabilitation. And, it can feel overwhelming in that you may not understand the changes and you can often feel like you have to embark on this journey alone. However, if you seek out the appropriate support such as professionals who understand the challenges you’re facing, a path to recovery can take place . At Colorado Brain Injury Therapy, our therapists understand that managing changes in self-identity can be an important part of rehabilitation
At Colorado Brain Injury Therapy we take various clinical strategies for assessing changes in self-identity and a focus is placed on working collaboratively with our clients to support them to re-engage in valued activities and find meaning in their lives after brain injury. At Colorado Brain Injury Therapy we allow for the grief and loss to be processed, while helping our clients move into a growth mindset that shifts focus from dysfunction to identifying and promoting personal strength and meaning after a brain injury.
