Main description:

Combines a comprehensive literature review on Posttraumatic Growth, mild Traumatic Brain Injury and disability culture, including the disability movement and TBI disability cross-culturally.

A thorough qualitative research process and product, utilizing journal entries and medical records, texts, notes from doctors, therapists and rehabilitation specialists, alternating with clinical analysis and interpretation.

Written by a licensed trauma therapist and a researcher who captured collected self-observational data on her actual behaviors, thoughts, emotions and trauma in real time as she went through her recovery in both a field and a process journal, over a ten-year period.

Contents:

Section I.Setting the Context. 1. Prelude of My Persona Pre-TBI. 2. Research Method of Autoethnography. Section II. Literature Review. 3. Posttraumatic Growth (PTG). 4. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). 5. Disability Culture and Disability Studies. Section III. Narrative: Journey of Recovery Post-TBI. 6. Years 1 and 2: Diagnosis. 7. Years 1 and 2: Loss of My Old Self. 8. Years 3 and 4: Neuropsychological Impairments and Altered Relationships. 9. Years 3 and 4: Life Coach & Begin Self-Discovery. 10. Years 3 and 4: Mental Health & Spiritual Decline. 11. Years 5 and 6: Self-Discovery & Community Integration. 12. Years 7 and Beyond: Valuing Life & Developing Wisdom. 13. Summary, Controversies & Clinical Implications. 14. References. 15. Appendix A: Externalized Thoughts Process Board/Map of My Dissertation. 16. Appendix B: Culture gram 1. Pre-Accident. 17. Appendix C: Culture gram 2. Two Years Post Accident. 18. Appendix D: Culture gram 3. Five Years Post Accident.