From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishsomebody/something’s former selfsomebody/something’s former selfBEFOREwhat someone or something was like before they were changed by age, illness, trouble etc She seems more like her former self.be a shadow/ghost of your former self (=be much less confident, healthy, energetic etc than you used to be) The team’s a shadow of its former self. → former
Examples from the Corpus
somebody/something’s former self• A man once famed for his intolerance, xenophobia and irrational rages has become a husk of his former self.• However, such plans would have required Melanie to want to preserve her former self.• Over the last few months he had become rather withdrawn and mistrustful; a subdued version of his former self.• Sharpness docks is now a shadow of it's former self.• Stark had taken me to a place where I could shed my former selves and start anew.• The 1984 Geyserville was a shell of its former self.• The trees were dusty and muscular; zealous visions of their former selves.• There he was with his cigar, a shadow of his former self. 