updated 10/11/2024

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. 3 Strategies

    -Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude

    -Resist the Urge to Compare Yourself to Your Former Sefl

    -Get Peer Support

3. Conclusion

Introduction 

Unlike a heart attack or diabetes, when a person has a stroke with residual weakness or other impairments, the disabilities are often apparent to everyone.  It may manifest in how long the person takes to process information, how he or she speaks, or their limitations with movement or walking. Even while recovering, the obvious functional impairment and challenges with mobility can be a constant reminder of what was, and may make it difficult to deal with what is.

I have found that stroke survivors who tend to thrive despite their disabilities are the ones who can embrace the new normal and find success around their limitations. Below are 3 simple strategies to help get you back to living after a stroke.

1. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude

It is generally difficult to focus on lack when you force yourself to appreciate what you have. If you were an avid runner, it may be that the stroke now limits your ability to run, but if you allow yourself, you’ll realize you are now exposed to other activities you had never considered before. These activities include water aerobics, swimming, strength training, balance and flexibility exercises, chair yoga, pilates, and nature walks. Appreciate that!

Maybe the weakness in your hand makes it such that you can’t perform a certain aspect of your job, but now you can retrain to do something different.  Be open to the possibilities and appreciate that! Make yourself find things to appreciate.

Tip:  If you have trouble finding things for which to be thankful, play the alphabet game.  It is a game where you say the first letter of the alphabet and then list everything starting with that letter for which you are grateful. For example, with the letter A, you may be grateful for your sweet aunt Annie, the apple that you love may be on sale, and your trip to Aruba is filled with memories. Once you have exhausted one letter, move to the next.  By the time you get to the 4th alphabet, you will be surprised just how full your life is.

2. Resist the urge to compare yourself to your former self.

Comparing yourself to your former self hinders your ability to move into your new life.  It is ok to grieve, but there should be a deadline for your grieving.

Tip:  Get a gratitude journal and compare yourself to how you were the days, weeks, or months since the stroke, and celebrate your accomplishments.  

3. Get Peer Support

One of the best things you can do when you are having difficulty dealing with the results of your stroke is to speak with someone else who has had a stroke and who is thriving.  Often, people suffer in silence when a conversation with another person or a group of people who have had a similar journey would be of significant help. Success leaves clues, so talk with someone who has been in your shoes.

Tip: Join your local stroke support group, find an online group, or go to stoke.org to learn how to start or run a support group.

 Conclusion

Having a stroke and suffering impairments due to that stroke can cause you to long for the life you had before the stroke. Focusing too much on what you no longer have can negatively impact your progress. Although it is human nature to grieve, recognize that to move forward and increase your recovery, focus on taking intentional steps to embrace your current state and appreciate the progress you are currently making. 

 Dr. Diane Thompson, MD is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with a subspecialty in Brain Injury Medicine. She is also board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine and Age Management Medicine and a certified health coach who helps women over 50 use Lifestyle Medicine and longevity science to reverse and help control chronic diseases and age healthfully. She is the author of this Amazon bestseller.

Disclosure:  The information presented is for educational purposes and is not meant for diagnosis or treatment. No physician-patient relationship is intended. Discuss with your physician prior to making any changes to your health. Some of the links in this blog may be affiliate links, which are of no additional cost to you and allow me to keep the content free. These are products I’ve personally used.

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