Life After Stroke Is Right Around The Corner

Are you a stroke survivor? Or are you family or friends of a stroke survivor? There are so many questions and few answers. I know because seven years ago I had a stroke and wrestled with the same questions and problems you now face. This article will discuss what you can expect over the next several years of recovery.

The good news is you will recover. How much is the question. As the years pass you're feelings will change and soften. The sharp edges you feel today will soften and you will be very happy with your recovery as it occurs. And it occurs, slowly, often in bursts over time.

Recovery is different for everyone. I have met some stroke survivors who have recovered relatively quickly, over the first few months. Most others take years. Stroke recovery is not quick. How much you will recover is the big question.

Over the last several years I have learned and fully believe that much of your recovery depends on your attitude. I woke up every day and was afraid that I would never recover, so I worked hard day after day, month after month, year after year. I am convinced that work and that fear helped me achieve my recovery.

I have often joked that if I only knew that I would recover so well I would have sat back and enjoyed the la-la-land I found myself in. However I know that if I didn't work so hard to recover I wouldn't have recovered so well. That is the catch. The bottom line is there is no way out of it. You simply have to work as hard as you can and that will help your brain to re-wire itself over time.

The same spot in my brain is still dead. However other parts of my brain have picked up the slack. That is remarkable. It took time. Too much time if you ask me, but still recovery did happen.

Let me ask you a question. Pretend I am holding a cup and it is filled halfway with water. Is that glass half full or half empty? Think about that question. What is your answer? That will tell you whether you are a positive and forward thinking person, or whether you are a negative and backward thinking person.

If you want to work toward full recovery you must be a positive and forward thinking person. If you are not, change. This is so important. This is part of the way we human beings are wired. I know you are unhappy because of your stroke. That is not what I am talking about. What I am saying is your life attitude. You must have the right attitude to light the fuse in your brain toward a recovery explosion. Trust me. This matters.

There are so many of us who are dealing with stroke. Think about this. Roughly 750,000 to 800,000 Americans have a stroke every year. Add to that the family and friends and you can see how easily 10 million people every year deal with this. Now add five or six years since stroke does not heal quickly and you can see just how many tens of millions of Americans deal with stroke every day. More worldwide. More than one in ten.

I searched for answers and found few, even from my doctors and councilors. They don't know whether you will recover or not so they keep quiet. The problem is the stroke survivors ability to set goals has been injured. I know. Over the last several years of my recovery I decided to talk about this with stroke survivors, their family and friends. You have to help the survivor set goals and work to achieve them. They need you.

Family and friends are another story. There is so much for you to learn as well. Some are quiet and peaceful and pleasant. Others are abrupt and loud and too fast. When I had visitors from those types I simply could not deal with the noise and confusion. All I could do was get upset and push them away. That does not mean that I did not love them. It just meant I could not deal with them. They would have to learn how to deal with me.

Best wishes to you for a speedy and full recovery. Work hard every day. Expect it will take time, but the good news is you will recover. It just takes time.