merichsen

Stroke Survivor - female
  • Posts

    802
  • Joined

  • Last visited

About merichsen

  • Birthday 03/25/1962

Contact Methods

  • Stroke Network Email
    Yes
  • AIM
    mariaerichsen325@aol.com
  • MSN
    maria.erichsen@hotmail.com
  • Yahoo
    erichsenmaria@yahoo.com

Shared Information

  • Stroke Anniversary (first stroke)
    05-07-2003
  • Facebook URL
    http://
  • Interests
    reading, enjoying life, laughing, trying to get better
  • How did you find us?
    Google Search

Registration Information

  • First Name
    Maria
  • State
    New Jersey

Recent Profile Visitors

33,599 profile views

merichsen's Achievements

Mentor

Mentor (6/10)

  1. Happy Anniversary merichsen!

  2. Happy Anniversary merichsen!

  3. Happy Birthday merichsen!

  4. Betsy, I'm going to disagree with your statement no one knows what it is like. While that is true of those who have not had this happen to them, it is not of those who have had a stroke. Here we very well know the feeling of wanting so badly to get better, back to some semblance of normal, and not feel like a burden to ourselves along with everyone else. The frustration of that not happening very timely is something we also know all too well. I remember trying to have people understand by likening it to a case of the flu you just can't fully shake and pull yourself out from under but that wasn't it. i'm sorry but a box of chocolates, container of ice cream, or huge shopping spree doesn't make this feel any better. The only thing that does is time and the best way to help it along is for you to make a choice. You can choose to frustrate yourself and make yourself unhappy trying to rush things you can't change and make yourself happy, or you can learn to accept what you cannot change with the help of your friends here, and learn to find joy in what you may need to do differently and accomplish.
  5. Happy Anniversary merichsen!

  6. merichsen

    living room

    Very nice sweetheart! Lots of sunlight and room ~ You'll need it cause we're all coming over to hang out with you:) Got snacks?
  7. Mike, I am so so sorry for your loss. Bernadette was a very blessed lady to have been treasured and so well cared for by a man she loved and treasured too. Take solace knowing she is now an angel who now watches over you awaiting the time when your souls will be joined again for eternity. Prayers to you and your family. Warmest(((hugs))) Maria
  8. Miss Katrina, True It's All in Your Head, but everything in your head is not necessarily within your control. What I meant by having too much time on your hands to think and anxiety attacks had more to do with getting yourself worked up over going for a test, than the reality of being afraid you may have another seizure. I have full blown seizures too and know that fear of not knowing when one may hit to the point where you're not sure if you are imagining the onset or they are real. That kind of keeping yourself under a microscope to evaluate and wait and see what happens is very nerve wracking and gave me panic attacks too. I found that no matter how busy I was, the slightest nuance or sensation refocused me back to my fear. After a while what I realized was the panic attacks began to mimic the onset symptoms and I was creating my own monster too. I then decided that if I didn't get control of it the fear would control everything I did and eventually become more crippling than the stroke itself, so I rationalized it. I put in my head things that made sense to me like: As long as I took my seizure med I wouldn't have one, or at least not a full blown one, since they slow down what fires in my brain to cause them; if I was going to be out alone I always had ID, so the worst case scenario had my family contacted by medics. It made more sense to me that I wasn't going to die, and in reality might just end upon the ground with a booboo or two. Mostly I trusted God to keep me safe. Best of luck with your EEG. Have lots of fun running through the rooms and decorating your super-sized apartment. We will need pictures ya know Chicklet! Love you, Maria
  9. Honey, I don't remember you having panic attacks when you were buried in books worrying about keeping up your grades to maintain your scholarship. You handled the pressure better than most kids would have at your age. Need a reminder of how strong you are? Take a look at the video clip of your graduation. I don't need a reminder. I'm still amazed by you and the accomplished, determined lady I watched you grow into. You seem to have a bit too much time on your hands with all that energy to think and overthink, find a better way to expend it read, get engrossed in a cause, go back to school. Dr., sounds better than Honey, doesn't it? Love you, Maria
  10. Fred, You're not hanging on to some notion that you're still sane are ya? They say blissful ignorance keeps crazies happy. I won't tell you if you don't tell me. They made my day, thanks! Maria
  11. Good to see you're smiling and feeling good. Enjoy getting out and about in the nice weather! Maria
  12. Very cool Sweetheart!! Sounds like he knows your medical history, what he's doing, and what's best for you. I'm very happy for you. I hope this gives you some well deserved peace of mind. Keep smiling honey, all good things are coming. Love ya, Maria xoxo
  13. Happy Birthday merichsen!

  14. merichsen

    Catching Up

    Jeri, So great to see you blogging! Lots of us have difficulty with letting go of our perfectionism after stroke. We'll be happy to share with what worked for us so you can help dad adjust too. In time he will learn to establish what is perfect for him based on his abilities now by accepting and seeing himself through his own eyes now and who he was and the eyes of others. It will be a process getting him there, but we're here to help you along the way. Maria
  15. merichsen

    test

    Thanks Brice for getting her started. We are looking forward to Denise blogging with us.