Finding Existential Meaning After a Traumatic Brain Injury

Meaning in life is a fundamental condition for psychological well-being and can be experienced through beliefs, values, goals, and the identities and roles one occupies. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) commonly result in complex yet invisible challenges and limitations that disrupt a person’s ability to participate and engage in life, bringing about existential questions and concerns. Considering the dearth of exploration into the existential realm post-injury, this qualitative study explored the process of finding existential meaning through the stories of nine TBI survivors. Guided by Brown & Gilligan’s Listening Guide methodology, voices revealing the journey to fulfillment and meaning after TBI were heard with the aim of contributing to the ongoing shift from reductionist and individualist explanations of illness and disability toward holistic and relational views of personhood and well-being. This investigation offers valuable implications for professionals working alongside individuals with TBI, as it sheds light on the underdeveloped existential territory.