Eleanor Shell | Relearning Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury

After being hit by a car in June 2024, Eleanor Shell’s life changed overnight as a traumatic brain injury reshaped everything about how she thought, moved, worked, and lived. In this episode, she opens up about the depression and anxiety that come with a TBI, the grief of losing the identity and competence she once relied on, and the humbling reality of relearning basic tasks like driving, cooking, reading, and even remembering to brush her teeth. She shares how overwhelming multi-step tasks became, how her nervous system stayed stuck in fight-or-flight, and what it’s like living with an invisible injury most people can’t see. Eleanor also reflects on the drastic shift from her once full, purpose-driven life working multiple jobs she loved, caring for her kids without outside help, and being deeply embedded in her community to now spending much of her time at home recovering. Yet through it all, she has found new purpose in writing, sharing her story, and using her experience to bring awareness to women with brain injuries. Connect with Eleanor: https://www.instagram.com/reclaimingmybrain/#