I make faces, grit my teeth & talk to my affected shoulder or leg; and who cares? My left side was affected, so I order my right brain to "pay attention to your other 1/2"... I visualize it as something that CAN be re=connected & WILL work again.

Keep making faces, squeeze that toothpaste tube, brush your hair with your affected hand, brush the dog or cat, keep on doing things to strenghen yourself . Repititions will eventually teach your brain to find a new path for those activities.

Believe in YOU. You are the best source of confidence !

Cheers!

Marilyn

Throughout his therapy my husband when trying to move his affected arm has ALWAYS used every muscle in his body to get the arm to move - including all his facial muscles. We use to laugh when his in-patient therapist would say, "okay, now try to do that without using your eyebrows". I will sometimes hear my husband making funny noises - and notice he is trying with all his might to use his arm/hand to do something. It takes so much effort and he is trying so hard. Don't worry about the faces - use what ever muscles you need to get the job done. Even those eyebrows! -karen