Advice is easier said than done. Phrases like “listen to your body,” “be patient with yourself,” and “accept where you are” are simple, but living them is something else entirely. In recovery, I navigate chronic pain, fatigue, and the constant negotiation between what I want to do and what my body will allow. And it’s […]
Category: Stroke
Spoon and Cup Theory
Balancing Energy, Emotions, and Spirit One Day At A Time Living with a chronic illness requires a daily physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness check-in upon awakening. Spoon and Cup Theory offers a cross-referencing framework for a morning self-assessment of mind and body. Each day stands independent of the last and is paved with unknowns. There […]
More Than You Can Handle: Finding Strength in Hard Moments
There are times when life gives you more than you think you can handle. For me, there were moments when the thought of sobriety seemed impossible and living with a vision impacting disability felt devastating. The idea of living without these things that I depended on felt like more than I could take. But I’m […]
No Matter What: Sobriety & Stroke Recovery
Life in recovery doesn’t take a holiday or long weekend. Whether it’s navigating sobriety, stroke recovery, living with migraines, or a vestibular disorder, perseverance is not an option. It is a requirement. A mantra in sobriety is simple: “I don’t drink no matter what.” That concept runs deep for me. For stroke survivors, those dealing […]
Unwrapping the Unexpected Gifts in Dual Recovery
As I celebrate my 50th birthday, I am filled with gratitude for the unexpected gifts that recovery has brought into my life.
Disability Guilt: Being Disabled Is Not Your Fault
Why do we experience disability guilt and its detrimental effects on our well-being, and what are effective strategies for managing it?
Grounding Techniques for Stroke Recovery
Grounding techniques in stroke recovery allows us to acknowledge the hard stuff and uncover subtle blessings of our new reality.
I Am A Miracle In Recovery
When navigating life-altering and near-fatal events that lead to a life of recovery, the concept of a miracle in recovery often emerges.
Walking the Path: Choosing Adaptation Over Despair
I used to go to extreme lengths for alcohol and today must go to any lengths to choose adaption over despair and prioritize my well-being.
Climbing New Heights: Strategies for New Learning
Exploring my post-stroke journey and neuropsychiatric insights into mild vascular neurocognitive disorder with strategies for new learning.