Recipe for Recovery

Ask any survivor to describe their recipe for recovery, and you will recognize patterns.

Top resources on their list will be:

• love and support of their families
• medical care from their doctors and therapists
• hope, encouragement and tools from support groups

Three key components commonly listed by survivors who were successful in rebuilding their life after brain injury:

1. Letting go of their previous life

• previous identity – tied to ability and accomplishment
• obsession to restore their life to what it was previously
• anger and hurt
• old friends
• surrendering the need for control

2. Accepting their new reality

• belief that their life has a purpose
• self-acceptance of the “new-self”
• acknowledging the need for help and the willingness to ask for it
• using humor to cope
• desire to help others and make the world a better place

3. Believing that something good will come from their adversity

• strengths – resiliency, flexibility
• deeper meaning of life – appreciation for the little things
• spiritual growth – inner peace – no matter what happens, they will be o.k.
• greater understanding – increased tolerance, less judgmental
• more enjoyment – better balance of priorities