Hi Phyxius,

Dr. Diane Stoler, who is a neuropsychologist who has had one traumatic brain injury and two minor traumatic brain injuries plus other neurological disorders, talks about going through a grieving process with your old self. According to her, in order for us to get on with our lives, we need to bury who we used to be, grieve for that person, then begin anew with a new person. So, I think you are on the right track with wanting to start anew. I'm not sure it this involves excommunicating yourself from your family or not as I'm not a psychologist. But, like I said, it sounds like you are moving in the right direction.