How to Restart Life After Brain Injury? One Woman Used "Story Therapy" to Find Herself

When sudden brain injury tears apart our original story, how do we continue writing our future life?

A 43-year-old Indian career woman, after suffering hypoxic encephalopathy, experienced successive blows of physical decline, cognitive impairment, and identity loss. Through 25 narrative therapy sessions, she recovered her shattered self, redefining the meanings of "mother" and "strong woman" accompanied by wheelchair and ventilator.

This story isn't just about medical miracles, but reveals the deep power of human spirit reconstruction—when we learn to narrate ourselves with new language, trauma ceases to be an endpoint, becoming a starting point for rebirth.

Ms. Wa's Story: From Supermom to "Useless Person"

Ms. Wa (case pseudonym) was a mechanical engineer managing multinational projects, also a supermom baking cakes daily for her daughter.

**Turning point**: Waking from three weeks' coma, she discovered she'd lost walking ability, post-brain-injury tremors making her hands unable to hold blueprints or whisks.

**Diagnosis list**: - Chronic cerebellar infarction - Myoclonic epilepsy - Mild cognitive impairment - Depression

**Dilemma**: Neurological rehabilitation could improve muscle tone, but couldn't cure her late-night tears looking at daughter's photos.

**Key discovery**: Only upon encountering narrative therapy did Ms. Wa realize: what truly needed fixing was the life script kidnapped by "perfectionism."

What Is Narrative Therapy?

Unlike traditional psychological counseling, narrative therapy believes: - "Problems" aren't inherent within individuals - But stem from internalization of social stories

**Simple understanding**: Like our lives being written as fixed scripts, narrative therapy helps rewrite these scripts.

Narrative Therapy's Four-Step Healing Process

Step 1: Deconstruct Dominant Narratives—From "Perfect Superhuman" to Authentic Self

Therapist first guided Ms. Wa to organize life stories, deconstructing two opposing identities in her self-perception:

**Two identities' conflict**: - "Lost self": Perfect career woman and supermom - "Disabled present": Wheelchair-dependent, work-unable "useless person"

**Key dialogue**: Ms. Wa believed "good mother = personally baking cakes for child," therapist questioned: "If a mother can't bake anymore due to disability, but can play games with child daily, isn't she still a good mother?"

**Therapy principle**: Help her realize these identities aren't "objective reality" but external demands.

Step 2: Externalization Technique—Separating Problems from Personality

**Therapy scene**: Ms. Wa broke down crying, fearing being forever remembered as "sick mom" in child's memory.

**Therapist's question**: "If disability were a villain character, what name would you give it?"

**Externalization effect**: Made her realize "brain injury is life experience, not identity definition."

**Specific methods**: - Named brain injury sequelae "Tremor Monster" - Named self-criticism "Perfection Tyrant" - Started recording "Villain Disruption Diary"

**Healing effect**: Describing problems in third person, she discovered: trembling hands could still choose cartoons for child, wheelchair companionship could equally weave warm memories.

Step 3: Capture "Unique Outcomes"—Finding Life's Sparkling Moments

**Turning event**: Once Ms. Wa forgot her wheelchair, walked to clinic leaning on walls.

**Therapist's interpretation**: Gave this behavior "hero's journey" metaphor—like lame blacksmith Hephaestus becoming gods' craftsman in mythology, imperfection breeds unique strength.

**Therapy records**: They co-created "Wheelchair Knight's Adventure Diary," recording how she: - Used cognitive training to "upgrade brain equipment" - Used voice software to "regain work scepter"

**Therapy effect**: These new stories gradually dismantled "I must be perfect" old script.

Step 4: Reconstruct Life Story—From "Victim" to "Wounded Warrior"

Therapist introduced "Book of Life" metaphor, having Ms. Wa: - Use different colored pens distinguishing "old chapters" (e.g., "I was team leader") - And "new chapters" (e.g., "I'm now daughter's play partner")

**Identity transformation**: From "victim" to "wounded warrior," as she said later: "I'm now a scarred warrior mother, more real than past 'superhuman.'"

Narrative Therapy's Healing Power

Core Principles

Narrative therapy helps people: 1. **See problem sources**: Realize perfection standards are socially imposed 2. **Separate problems from self**: Treat problems as "villain roles" not self-definition 3. **Discover new possibilities**: Find new strength and meaning in adversity 4. **Rewrite life script**: Define self-worth with new stories

Suitable Populations

Narrative therapy especially suits: - People experiencing major trauma or illness - Those feeling bound by social standards - People wanting to redefine self-worth

Insights for Us

Ms. Wa's story tells us:

**Important perspective**: True healing isn't returning to the past, but learning to view the present with new eyes.

**Life wisdom**: When we can retell our stories, trauma becomes growth nourishment, imperfection becomes unique strength source.

**Hopeful message**: No matter what blows we experience, we all have capacity to redefine life's meaning, find our own new chapters.

Remember: Your life story is always written by you!