107. The Identity Journey: Self-Rediscovery after TBI - Brain Injury Community Panel
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In this episode…
There is a common phrase, “new you” after brain injury - but what if it’s more nuanced than that?
There are parts of ourselves that feel new and unfamiliar, but there are other parts of ourselves that have been there all along… how do we piece it all together?
How do we find ourselves again? What does “identity” mean anyway? Why does society define us by what we do - and how can we get to a deeper understanding of who we really are? Get ready to explore all this and more with our second Brain Injury Community Panel.
Today’s panel features 3 brain injury survivors, each with their own unique journey: Bobby Apgar, Lynda Dougé, and Chelsea Tuttle. Our conversation will help you to learn more about the journey of identity after brain injury, ways that these survivors have learned to re-discover themselves, and encouragement and advice on how to get to know yourself again.
Meet Our Panelists
Bobby is a TBI survivor and speaker. In 1995, Bobby was a college football starter getting recognized as a pre-season All-American at a Division 1 level when he suffered a life changing car accident which caused a significant traumatic brain injury. After being in a coma for 28 days, Bobby began the journey of rehabilitation - but he didn't realize how much the TBI would affect his life. In recent years, Bobby was faced with coming to grips with his TBI like never before and began a journey of acceptance through entering the brain injury community. As a 30 year survivor, he shares a perspective of hope and perseverance.
Lynda is a joyful woman, a daughter, a mother, a wife, a family member and a friend. One of her proudest identities is Traumatic Brain Injury Survivor and Advocate.Lynda and Richard have been married for almost 28 years. The day of their 25th wedding anniversary (9/25/21), while on vacation in Salt Lake City, Lynda was crossing a busy street on a pedestrian crosswalk at a green light. The driver of a lifted SUV made an illegal left turn to beat incoming traffic and hit her full force. She was thrown off and landed to the right side of her head. She was brought by ambulance to the ER and transferred to the Trauma/ICU unit. She was diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury. From that day forward, Lynda and Richard (as her caregiver) embarked on a treacherous and challenging journey.
Chelsea has been living with a traumatic brain injury since July 2020. This concussion seemed insignificant at first, but has led to a years-long journey of re-learning how to live life. She has dealt with difficulties of simple daily tasks, including holding conversations, listening to music, driving a car, following a recipe, being inside a grocery store, working out, and so much more. These ongoing challenges significantly impact her daily life, but nonetheless Chelsea has spent the past several years learning the importance of self-advocacy and doing your own research. After a lonely journey of healing, she has made significant improvements with her own challenges, and her goal is to help others so that they never have to go through recovery alone.
Main Takeaways
Discovering yourself is a continuous journey, approach yourself with kindness and grace.
Brain injury is often invisible, leading to feelings of being misunderstood and uncertainty.
Every day is a chance to grow and get to know yourself again.
Independence loss can deeply affect one's sense of self.
Finding new communities is important for belonging.
Resilience is key to navigating identity changes.
Societal definitions of identity often focus on what we do - it’s important to shift to a deeper understanding of who you are.
Recognize ways you’ve grown through your injury - with empathy, compassion, grace.
Honest self-reflection is vital for personal growth.
Embracing change is necessary for rediscovering identity.
Resilience is built through perseverance and acceptance of failure.
Community support is invaluable for survivors.
Hope is found in the journey, not just the destination.
Related Resources
FREE Resources available for Instant Download:
Journaling Prompts for Survivors: Exploring Identity after Brain Injury
Journaling Prompts for Survivors: Emotions, Relationships, and Daily Growth
Family Identity after Injury: When One of Us is Injured, All of Us are Changed
CLICK HERE: https://hopesurvives.org/resource-hub
Thank you to The Functional Neurology Center for sponsoring this podcast - The FNC’s personalized neuro-recovery programs offer hope for those suffering from Brain Injuries, Dysautonomia, Vestibular, Chronic Pain, Stroke, Movement Dysfunction, Developmental Disorders, PPPD, FND and Complex Post Concussion. Learn more: thefnc.com
This podcast is for education and informational purposes only, and not intended for medical advice. If you need specific medical advice, please consult your physician.
