You could publish in draft first, if you want time to think about your entry first.

Good luck. I hope blogging works for you

Mary

hey AJ:

I kinda missed you and your blog, well you know what I m pretty nosy person, and I love reading people's blogs and their comments on my blog, I have learned so much from my blogs and others so keep on blogging, I will try not to judge , but by the end of the journey you could care less about judging

Asha

True, thank you Mary

So right Asha. I need to get so many thoughts and feelings out I think. I know I don't have things so bad and I'm very lucky and blessed.

AJ,

I WENT THROUGH ALL KINDS OF MEDS SINCE MY STROKE IN 12-03. IT IS CERTAINLY NOT "HEAVEN". I MOSTLY HAD SIDE EFFECTS WORSE THAN THE CURE, SO CALLED. I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL IN THAT RESPECT.

AS FOR BARING YOUR FEELINGS, THATS' WHAT THESE BLOGS HELP ME DO. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF THEM UNTIL I JOINED THIS SITE AFTER THE STROKE IN 03. I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER AND FEEL THAT THESE ARE VERY CATHARTIC BECAUSE YOU GET FEEDBACK. SOMETIMES, I DON'T CARE FOR THE FEEDBACK, BUT THEN I QUIT POUTING, THINK IT OVER, AND REALIZE THAT EVERYONE IS TRYING TO HELP IN THEIR OWN WAY.

I AM GLAD YOU CHOSE US TO "DOWNLOAD" ON. YOU WON'T FIND A BETTER GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY REALLY UNDERSTAND.

MY BEST SWEETIE

KIM

Hey AJ!

Glad to hear your blog! Please realize that's its like normal to be depressed from a stroke.

I was told this in rehab, made me feel more normal. Honestly, at over 3 years post stroke, now I feel like everyone moves thru their "stages" in recovery from a stroke.

The first year I like measured in"months" of progress till I made it a year. The first year is two steps forward and 1/2 a one back. Then I thought I was completely almost (to myself)ok in the second year till I hit the third and it was even moreso. So tome its a great antiager, to me we do get better as we get older.

I keep some Valium (mostly to sleep) and some xanax (new, for anti anxiety) cause I mostly feel like I still deal with emotional lability, vertigo and sometimes my temper will suddenly boil over something. Now, the 3rd year seems mostly stuff in my head and just tiredness for physical. For depression I try to exercise each morning anywhere from 15-30 minutes. I cycle and then lift weights. Take my vitamins and drink lots of water.

My little mantra is calm and assertive. I really have a ton of fear and self doubt. So I really try to remind myself not to be a victim or to even act like one in my behavior. My own self and my fears and lack of confidence are my own doings and I've finally realized I'm keeping me from my own adventure. I think this throws ya pretty bad. But we need to recognize our feelings and not react to it but acknowledge it and then proceed how we think will be best for us. Take the time to go thru recovery, forcing it will only make you recover slower(don't frustrate yourself) in becoming a new/old you. As this progresses old signs of you may come more to the surface. Good luck in your journey....jan

.

AJ,

I'd also thought about changing my blog settings so that no one could comment because sometimes what I write is not always understood the way I wrote it----not often anymore, people have gotten used to my writing style. However, I found that the feedback (good and bad) really helps you think deeper about the feelings you've blogged and that's a good thing.

Like Mary said, you can mix your blog up, too, and publish part but not all of your entries if something your want to write about isn't something you're ready want to share with the world. I've learned, though, that the more straight forward and honest you are with blogging your feelings the better you feel inside.

Jean

AJ

being depressed after i stroked is part of the "new normal" that i have to deal with. antidepressant meds work for me, as well as talking things out on this website and in other venues. the blogs, including reading other blogs, writing my blog, and the feedback that i have received on my blog, have been very helpful in my stroke/stroke caregiver recovery.

keep on coming back!

sandy

AJ

I recently started publishing my blogs and I must admit I have really felt better. The feedback helped alot. I am almost 1 year post stroke and I feel as though I have just started my journey to recovery...well I actually have. Journaling has helped majorly and it made it much easier to blog. I started keeping a written journal but my hand writing is terrible because I still get the muscle weakness/fatigue quicker than typing, not to mention since I started blogging I find I spend more time here than in the post section of this site. Reading others journey and struggles allows me to know that there is some normallacy to myself. I think we all have a lot in common.

sgriffin :forgive_me?: