Stroke support is key to healing.
Entry posted by Michael
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I thought since I had such a mild stroke, I could deal with it's after effects myself. For over a year after returning to work as a road sales manager, the stress to keep up and empty alone feeling got the best of me and after being called in for a review, I informed my supervisor I refused to drive more than four hours daily in fear of another stroke, was relived of my duties (fired). The following day I had a gran mal seizure. At the time, I did not realize, I brought it, the stress and seizure, on myself. I was keeping all the "stroke feelings" (emptiness, sadness, grief) bottled up inside. I had also just been through a divorce a month after the stroke. Instead of letting my feelings be known, I just "manned up" and pressed forward. It is now I realize recovery; even from a very mild stroke cannot be done without support. I bumped along for the two years following the stroke but only recently am feeling much better about things. I attribute much of it to support I've gotten on this site. I had refused to accept myself, the person I had become post-stroke. The stupid part is I had so little change to accept. My only real problem was depression and that bleeping alone feeling which to this day has not gone away. I was on medication, which made the depression ease, but I was always a little foggy. I finally convinced my current doctor to give me a plan to wean me off the anti-depressives. I am no longer taking them. I guess I'm still a little depressed, but at least I'm not cloudy all the time in my head. The depression I am currently experiencing is very slight and something I can deal with using prayer and exercise (walking). I am trying to dwell on the good, and be grateful I am doing as well as I am. I've said it before and will say it many more times. I got off easy. When I think of the circumstances of my episode, I am lucky to just be alive Not that my stroke was so serious, it was minor, but I was unattended in my car for 26 hours after it, that's the wow part. I guess there really are angels among us. Currently I live in Charlottesville, Virginia, population 40,000 city wise, 100,000 countywide and I cannot find a stroke support group. I am grateful I found StrokeNet. My healing is on going and largely due to the love of a really good lady I met and support from my friends here at StrokeNet. I don't know where I'd be without it. As I have reached the point where I know I have lived longer that I shall live on this earth I am a little less concerned with possessions and more with relationships / friendships. I have and continue to make friends here, how wonderful and supportive.
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