Hello Itsracin
Thank you for reaching out on EnableMe, I am sorry to hear what you are going through since your stroke. It sounds like there has been a lot happening for you, so I am pleased you have reached out and I am sure others will reach out to your post.
Your feelings at the moment are more common than you’d think, and I am sure there will be others in the community that will have felt similar. The first few months after a stroke can be really difficult and challenging, finding the new normal can also take time. There is no need to be disappointed in yourself, it sounds like you are doing all that you can in your rehab and recovery. Stroke recovery can take time, and it can be tough, and you may not always feel you are heading in the right direction.
Have you had a look at the Young Stroke Website here? These are all young stroke survivors like yourself have been through similar experiences and shared their stories. It might help to hear others who understand what you are feeling and how they managed to keep moving forward. It can be difficult to find the new normal, or the new you after a stroke, but there is support out there.
Have you spoken to your family or to your GP about how you are feeling Itsracin? Sometimes talking about these feelings of overwhelm, frustration and feeling down can help. Your GP can talk with you about a Mental Health Care Plan and perhaps refer you to a psychologist so you can talk through everything that is going on for you with someone who can help guide you through these feelings. If you are still involved in rehab and have a team working with you, you can talk to them and see whether they have a psychologist on the team that you can be referred to. Mood changes and feeling frustrated at your progress can be something that many experience after a stroke. These feelings can improve with the input and support of friends, family and health professionals.
Fatigue can be challenging, and many people who have not experienced fatigue after stroke do not understand just how debilitating it can be. It can be difficult to say just how long fatigue may last, but there are things that you can do to help manage the fatigue, both mental and physical. Have you seen an Occupational Therapist? An OT can help with energy conservation techniques and fatigue management strategies. They can work with you to work out what works best for you.
We would also suggest just doing some simple things (if you aren’t already) like pacing your activities and taking frequent shorter breaks instead of one long break after an activity. Think about what things you do that seem to be triggers for you feeling fatigued. Make sure you then don’t group these things together. Spread out your appointments and your therapy, factor in rest breaks even if you aren’t feeling fatigued and prioritise what you really need to do each day. Be kind to yourself Itsracin, don’t pressure yourself too much to get everything done each day. Do more on the days you are feeling stronger. It is ok to have a bad or down day, they do happen, and this doesn’t mean you should be disappointed in yourself. Sometimes not being as positive as you think you should be is ok, what is a concern, is if these days are the most common.
There is help out there, do feel free to reach out to the team here at StrokeLine and give us a call or drop us an email. We would be happy to talk with you in more detail about everything you are going through. You can call StrokeLine on Ph 1800 787 653, or email us on strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au. We are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm AEST. If you need to talk to someone after hours or if you are feeling really down, you can also reach out to LifeLine on 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. These services are available 24 hours.
Do take care of yourself. Reach out if you would like to talk. What you are going through is incredibly hard and it is ok to feel the way you are feeling, but there is help available.
Kind regards
Siobhan (StrokeLine)
