3 weeks post TIA although scans etc all clear I’m now suffering from…

Hi Mark,

Thank you for reaching out. I am sorry to hear about your TIA and the anxiety you are now experiencing in relation to having another stroke.

Anxiety about having another stroke is something we do hear often, and you are not alone in feeling this way. It sounds like your anxiety is really impacting you, and we can acknowledge that anxiety is more than just feeling stressed - it’s a serious condition that makes it hard to cope with daily life. You can read more on what we know about anxiety and stroke here:

We also have resources directly relevant to the fear of having another stroke:

What to do next

It would be recommended to speak with your doctor or other health professional about how you are feeling. You may want to explore a Mental Health Care Plan with your GP which entitles you to a number of subsidised sessions with a Psychologist for emotional counselling and coping strategies for anxiety. There will still be an out-of-pocket cost, but it will be less than paying for a private service. It is important that anxiety does not go ignored, and I am glad you have already reached out to us to address it.

Peer Support

If you are interested in young stroke survivors peer support, the Genyus coffee club is worth considering: https://genyusnetwork.com/coffee-club/

It is an online peer-led video meetup (over Zoom)!
It is a great way to connect with and meet some new friends with lived experience
It is hosted by a trained fellow member from the genyus network

You can also check if there are any support groups local to your area: Support groups | enableme - stroke recovery and support

We have received feedback from stroke survivors that talking to others with similar lived experiences can be beneficial.

Stroke Prevention and Risk Factors:

There are also things within your control that you can take charge of to reduce your risk of having another stroke. Being aware of controllable risk factors and optimising them might give you a sense of control and hopefully ease some of your anxiety.

The Stroke Foundation also runs a Living Well After Stroke Program which is a free, group-based program that focuses on secondary stroke prevention through behaviour change. The program discusses controllable risk factors for stroke, gives you tips and tools to better your health habits and continue making healthy changes on your own. As mentioned above, making these changes can help you to stay healthy and reduce the chance of another stroke. You can read more about it here or the brochure here: lwas-brochure-for-prticipants.pdf.

Feel free to sign up to this program if you are interested: Living Well After Stroke expression of interest or reach out to us directly to chat more about the program and whether it might be suitable for you (Phone: 1800 787 653; Email: LWAS@strokefoundation.org.au).

Signs of Stroke:

Ultimately, we want you and your friends and family to feel well-informed about what to do in case anyone, including yourself experiences stroke symptoms. The Stroke Foundation use the acronym F.A.S.T. (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) to identify stroke symptoms – Facial weakness, arm weakness and difficulty with speech.

Whilst those are the most common symptoms or signs of stroke, but they are not the only signs. The following signs of stroke may occur alone or in combination:

Weakness or numbness or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg on either or both sides of the body.
Difficulty speaking or understanding.
Dizziness, loss of balance or an unexplained fall.
Loss of vision, sudden blurring, or decreased vision in one or both eyes.
Headache, usually severe and abrupt onset, or unexplained change in the pattern of headaches.
Difficulty swallowing.

If you notice any of these signs no matter how long they last contact 000 immediately. You can read more about signs of stroke here Signs of stroke | Stroke Foundation - Australia and What to do while you wait for an… | Stroke Foundation - Australia.

Once again, we are glad to hear from you, and we hope you find the information provided reassuring or helpful. If you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us on StrokeLine 1800 787 653 or email strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au. We are available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm AEST.

Wish you the best,

Bethany (StrokeLine)