Host: Cristabelle Braden

Guest: Bethany Lewis (Neurological Occupational Therapist & Certified Life Coach)

Episode Summary:

After a brain injury, one of the most profound challenges survivors and families face is the shift in identity. Who am I now? How do I reconcile the person I was with the person I’ve become? In this deeply personal and insightful conversation, Cristabelle and Bethany Lewis explore the emotional, cognitive, and relational impacts of identity changes after brain injury. They discuss why it’s natural to feel defined by your injury, how to navigate grief, and practical strategies for rediscovering—or redefining—your sense of self.

Whether you're a survivor, family member, or professional, this episode offers validation, hope, and actionable steps to move forward with resilience.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Why Identity Shifts Happen After Brain Injury

• The sudden vs. gradual nature of change

• How abilities, roles, and relationships are disrupted

• The emotional toll of feeling "not yourself

• Personality changes (irritability, emotional regulation)

• Loss of interests, taste, or spiritual connection

• Feeling disconnected from your body (depersonalization)

• Separating yourself from the injury ("I am not my diagnosis")

• The power of language & reframing beliefs

• How to support your loved one without losing yourself

• Managing resentment & unmet needs

• Accepting the "new normal" while holding space for grief

• Finding meaning in the journey

• The role of spirituality in identity

• Embracing the "now and not yet" of recovery

Free Resources Mentioned:

📝 Journaling Prompts for Identity After Injury👉 Download Here

👨‍👩‍👧 Guide for Families: "Family Identity After Injury"👉 Download Here

Connect with Bethany Lewis:

• Download your free guide: 5 Ways to Best Support Your Loved One Dealing with Concussion: theconcussioncoach.com

  
  

  Join the Hope Survives Community:

• Support Groups: Hope for Families, Hope for Couples, Found Connection (for isolated survivors), Renewed by Faith (faith-based group), & more!

• Brain Injury Bible Study: Ongoing virtual meetings👉 Learn More at hopesurvives.org

Final Thought:

"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us." —Joseph Campbell

You are not alone. There is always hope. 💛

#HopeSurvives #BrainInjury #TBIRecovery #IdentityAfterInjury #YouAreNotAlone