Comments on: Stroke Depression http://www.strokesurvivorblog.com/2009/12/19/stroke-depression/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Our Stroke Recovery Journey Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:57:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jim Pettitt http://www.strokesurvivorblog.com/2009/12/19/stroke-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-5943 Jim Pettitt Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:44:29 +0000 http://www.strokesurvivorblog.com/?p=1165#comment-5943 Hello Kathy, As I've told hundreds, "Depression is the gift that keeps on giving", if you let it. If been a caregiver to my father and a stroke survivor too. I've seen both side up close and personal. My father was depressed for 10years after his stroke. His right arm didn't work, to walk he used a ankle brace and cane, had limited use of speech and difficult reading. He changed after 10yrs when he realized the "Good Health Truck" was never coming. He started working on getting better for the next 13 years, it worked. My stroke was just like his, maybe worst. I had two stroke the same day. Wasn't expected to live over night according to the doctor. I started working on getting better using the therapists and on my own everyday. I decided to skip the 10 years of depression and go for the cure. Steve needs to let go of the past and grab the right here and now. Work on the little things, they all add up. Winning the little challenges always made me smile. Hello Kathy,
As I’ve told hundreds, “Depression is the gift that keeps on giving”, if you let it.
If been a caregiver to my father and a stroke survivor too. I’ve seen both side up close and personal.
My father was depressed for 10years after his stroke. His right arm didn’t work, to walk he used a ankle brace and cane, had limited use of speech and difficult reading.
He changed after 10yrs when he realized the “Good Health Truck” was never coming. He started working on getting better for the next 13 years, it worked.
My stroke was just like his, maybe worst. I had two stroke the same day. Wasn’t expected to live over night according to the doctor.
I started working on getting better using the therapists and on my own everyday. I decided to skip the 10 years of depression and go for the cure.
Steve needs to let go of the past and grab the right here and now. Work on the little things, they all add up.
Winning the little challenges always made me smile.

]]> By: Kathy http://www.strokesurvivorblog.com/2009/12/19/stroke-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-4649 Kathy Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:01:28 +0000 http://www.strokesurvivorblog.com/?p=1165#comment-4649 Dear Eve, Thank you for sharing such optimistic news of how perseverance, faith and fortitude helped you in your stroke recovery. And thank you for your prayers also. I'm so glad that you have chosen to be a better person instead of bitter. May God continue to bless you with his grace, strength and faith as you recover. My love and prayers, Kathy Dear Eve,
Thank you for sharing such optimistic news of how perseverance, faith and fortitude helped you in your stroke recovery. And thank you for your prayers also. I’m so glad that you have chosen to be a better person instead of bitter. May God continue to bless you with his grace, strength and faith as you recover.
My love and prayers,
Kathy

]]> By: Eve http://www.strokesurvivorblog.com/2009/12/19/stroke-depression/comment-page-1/#comment-4636 Eve Sat, 02 Jan 2010 01:08:42 +0000 http://www.strokesurvivorblog.com/?p=1165#comment-4636 Hi Kathy, I'm a 27 years old female and I had a stroke when I was 26.. last summer to be exact.. which paralyzed my whole left side and I am blessed to be able to live to celebrate my 27th birthday. I had a tumor that had to be taken by surgery and in the surgery that was done not by my neurosurgeon, but by one of his resident (my family knew this after all of the complications), accidentally my artery was poked and i had a hemorrhage and a stroke. I also went through a craniotomy, brain bypass surgery and clipping. I was in the ICU for about 5 weeks before I went to stay at a rehab centre, and because of my age, I recovered really fast - but it's not without a lot of hard work and perseverance. I failed many times as I tried to walk and got frustrated many times before when I wasn't able to do things myself.. easy things like holding my fork to eat... And yes, God is good , and though I did face through all the stages of grief, I was finally able to come out from my depression. One thing that helped me was to live in the present and looking forward to my future. There were lots of embarrassment for not being able to do things though I was young, had to be dependent on people around me even when I needed to go to the washroom, hated that my parents had to take care of me again like I was a baby when it was my time to take care of them instead. I even saw a psychologist for my depression and I found that the key is within myself. I decide whether I want to be depressed or not, whether I want to continue on pitying myself or not, and I learned to forgive and forget the past and things that happened. I give thanks to God for my life everyday and my new motto in life is - I can do it if I think I can do it! For me, I had 2 choices, 1. whether to pity myself for being a 'disabled' at 26 years old and cry or 2. to get up and try again and again when I fail. And for me, it's too obvious which one I had to choose. Living at the rehab centre also made me see that I wasn't alone, there were lots of people with the same or even worse condition and yet they tried their best and wouldn't give up. I kept a journal and wrote down the things I was thankful for everyday. I challenged myself even with the smallest thing I could do, like waking up in the morning from my left side (which was the weak side), had to use my left hand for things on my left including typing, only use my left hand to do certain things like fixing my glasses when I'm wearing it. Being able to do those little challenges gave me a sense of satisfaction that I was doing things to make myself better. And this has led me to where I am today. Of course all these need to come from Steve himself as noone would've been able to force me to do these things (I used to hate people telling me to hold my fork with my left/weak hand, to put on my socks with my left hand, etc) So please continue to always encourage Steve and let him look forward to his future. He's not alone and never alone in this challenge. Going out and enjoying life outside my house also work for me, tho I hated meeting new/not-so-close friends since I felt embarrassed with my condition. Make him look forward to living his life and that he HAS a future. Thanks for sharing your experience and God bless your journey! I'll pray for you, Steve, and your whole family! Hi Kathy,

I’m a 27 years old female and I had a stroke when I was 26.. last summer to be exact.. which paralyzed my whole left side and I am blessed to be able to live to celebrate my 27th birthday. I had a tumor that had to be taken by surgery and in the surgery that was done not by my neurosurgeon, but by one of his resident (my family knew this after all of the complications), accidentally my artery was poked and i had a hemorrhage and a stroke. I also went through a craniotomy, brain bypass surgery and clipping. I was in the ICU for about 5 weeks before I went to stay at a rehab centre, and because of my age, I recovered really fast – but it’s not without a lot of hard work and perseverance. I failed many times as I tried to walk and got frustrated many times before when I wasn’t able to do things myself.. easy things like holding my fork to eat…
And yes, God is good , and though I did face through all the stages of grief, I was finally able to come out from my depression. One thing that helped me was to live in the present and looking forward to my future. There were lots of embarrassment for not being able to do things though I was young, had to be dependent on people around me even when I needed to go to the washroom, hated that my parents had to take care of me again like I was a baby when it was my time to take care of them instead. I even saw a psychologist for my depression and I found that the key is within myself. I decide whether I want to be depressed or not, whether I want to continue on pitying myself or not, and I learned to forgive and forget the past and things that happened. I give thanks to God for my life everyday and my new motto in life is – I can do it if I think I can do it!
For me, I had 2 choices, 1. whether to pity myself for being a ‘disabled’ at 26 years old and cry or 2. to get up and try again and again when I fail. And for me, it’s too obvious which one I had to choose. Living at the rehab centre also made me see that I wasn’t alone, there were lots of people with the same or even worse condition and yet they tried their best and wouldn’t give up. I kept a journal and wrote down the things I was thankful for everyday. I challenged myself even with the smallest thing I could do, like waking up in the morning from my left side (which was the weak side), had to use my left hand for things on my left including typing, only use my left hand to do certain things like fixing my glasses when I’m wearing it. Being able to do those little challenges gave me a sense of satisfaction that I was doing things to make myself better.
And this has led me to where I am today. Of course all these need to come from Steve himself as noone would’ve been able to force me to do these things (I used to hate people telling me to hold my fork with my left/weak hand, to put on my socks with my left hand, etc) So please continue to always encourage Steve and let him look forward to his future. He’s not alone and never alone in this challenge. Going out and enjoying life outside my house also work for me, tho I hated meeting new/not-so-close friends since I felt embarrassed with my condition. Make him look forward to living his life and that he HAS a future. Thanks for sharing your experience and God bless your journey! I’ll pray for you, Steve, and your whole family!

]]>