What defines recovery for you?

Hi All,

We asked the Facebook community to define what recovery looked like for them. I was wondering what defines recovery for you?

Here are some of the Facebook community responses:

Diana De Marchi I am so grateful to be alive & mostly independent, to have my sight almost back in my affected eye, my memories back and being able to do my handicrafts, but the pain is nonstop, you learn to live with it but it can be exhausting & very lonely as you don't want to burden people too much so you just get on with it and be grateful for every day you have.

Nicole Howard Recovery for me is longing to work again. As a single mum, I have to rely on people's help and I hate that. I've tried to keep steady work but am unable to concentrate. Occasionally I go out, I pay for it with slurry speech, and fatigue for a couple of days but to be constantly house bound is so bad for depression. Thank god for family and friends. But the main thing is, looks can be deceiving, I look fine, but on the inside, most things, quite frankly are hard work. Fatigue stops me doing a lot... but as time passes, I'm finding it slightly easier, just slightly, but recovery for me has been an ongoing slow process.

Brenda Booth I am incredibly grateful to be physically okay. There are many days when my concentration, memory, and word finding are made worse by mind numbing fatigue (brain fog!). After my stroke I was able to go back to my old job part time but things have been a real challenge in my new job that I started in April. My family and friends, including my wonderful stroke support group friends are what give me joy.

Cate English I hear you Kirra ! I still need a spoon some days instead of a knife or fork but I've learnt to ignore funny looks in restaurants ... be good to yourself, treat yourself to a therapeutic massage or treatment ... have boundaries & if someone isn't on the same wellness journey as you, cut them. Good luck hon xx

Giovanna Ford Stroke survivors are truly awesome, you never give up and you inspire others to better themselves. My husband is a stroke survivor (since 2011) and he has had to re-learn even the simplest tasks, and continues his daily physio in spite of constant pain. He is my hero.

Jo Mooney This is such a wonderful idea!

Sharing stories seems to make the journey a lot easier and less isolated. It also gives you hope for the future, knowing that everything you have and still might be experiencing, has happened to others-you're not alone...

it also gives friends and families an insight into the new life inside your head; not the beautifully made up person they see in front of them, trying so very hard...

Katie Dobsa Recovery for me is to be able to walk through a shopping centre or mall and not have to hug the wall of the shops to walk straight so I don't run straight into a stranger, recovery is being able to attend functions, have conversations with people without struggling and without fatigue setting in, recovery is the possibility of one day being able to hold and cuddle my daughter without hurting with my deficit hand