Changing roles

This could be the time to change the roles in your life to align with the meaning and purpose you are looking for. Think of your past roles and find new ways to get that same sense in your new life.

Your life changes in many ways after you have a brain injury and chronic pain. There are often changes to your roles – your role at work, in your family and in your community. These roles give meaning and purpose to your life and it can be overwhelming when you are not able to return to these roles.

It can be helpful to think of your past roles and what meaning and purpose you got out of them. Think about what kind of work you did before, this could have been paid employment, study or volunteering roles. Think about the roles you had in your family, as a parent, partner, sibling or child. Or even other roles in your family, such as being the go-to person in your family to help and care for others, or the one who planned holidays or events. Think about the roles you had in your community. You may have helped out at your local school, church or sporting clubs.

Unfortunately, you may not be able to get back to many of these roles. But it can be helpful to think about what these roles were giving you in terms of meaning and purpose in life and then find new ways to get that same sense in your new life.

Take the time now to read the Changing roles guide, then work through the My changing roles worksheet to help you to get back meaning and purpose in your life and learn to Be Pain Smart.