even MORE STROKE RECOVERY TIPS - AS PROMISED

​Hello!!  Before I get into what I promised, I want to share with you an accomplishment I made today!! I was able to tie a bow on my shorts using both my hands!!  I am trying everyday to use my right arm and hand to do things they used to. That is so important - to remind my brain what my affected side was used to doing. I will be so excited to share with you when I can use my right hand again to brush my hair and my teeth!

Okay, I promised to share the last stroke recovery tips with you that Flint Rehab recommended in their article, “25 Stroke Recovery Tips for Healing, Habits, and Happiness,” dated January 7, 2019. As I mentioned before, please be sure to read the entire article when you get a chance. I will give you the highlights here and my comments with them.  I started with their first 9 Healing Tips in my 4/3/19 post.  And then I gave you the 6 Tips on Mindset Stroke Recovery in last week’s post.  Finally, here are the 3 Stroke Recovery Tips on Habits and 7 Stroke Recovery Tips on Happiness.

• VISUALIZATION - so do what the Olympic Gold Medalist, Michael Phelps, did everyday. He used visualization to get ready for his swim meets. Visualization, as pointed out by Flint Rehab, is a powerful neuroscience technique that helps to rewire the brain. When you rewire your brain, you have the ability to improve your performance. Flint Rehab goes on to state visualization can rewire the brain by triggering neuroplasticity the same way that physical activity does. Combining visualization with physical therapy can lead to greater recovery.
• MEDITATION - Meditation helps “grow” your brain, regulate your emotions and lower your fatigue. These are all needed benefits for your stroke recovery.
• REVERSE NEGATIVITY - As Flint Rehab points out, our brains tend to remember negative events more vividly than positive ones. Gratitude can help reverse that. They suggest that we write down things we are grateful for - everyday - in a journal.  Think of this - this would be perfect to go along side your daily accomplishments!!  Once both those habits are developed, it will train your brain to notice more - of what to be grateful for and what your accomplishments are!!  And again, it is all about neuroplasticity!!  We are what we do - repeatedly!!

So now, finally, the 7 tips on Happiness that Flint Rehab recommended in this article.

• POWER POSTURE - I stand up straight and I lift my arms (my left arm, because of my affected right arm, helps my right arm) into a V and “puff” out my chest. As Flint says, I feel more presence, confidence and comfortability.
• “HAPPY GUT, HAPPY BRAIN” - Believe it or not, the health of your gut is closely tied to the health of your brain. An unhealthy stomach can lead to anxiety and depression (and other things). Probiotics can really help post stroke depression - either supplements (ask your doctor) or certain foods. I am now eating yogurt on a daily basis because it is a probiotic.
• KNOW HOW TO ASK FOR HELP and WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP - Don’t be too proud to ask for help!  You need it!
• DEVELOP YOUR OWN SELF-CONFIDENCE - Recite daily self-affirmations.  Tell yourself that you are good, that you are doing good, that you look good, that you feel good, etc. Pretty soon your mind will believe it!
• ALLOW YOURSELF TO GRIEVE - You need to face your feelings.  Those close to you need to understand that you are not suffering from a self-pity party, you just need some time to acknowledge your feelings.
• MAKE PEACE WITH "SLOW" - You need to understand and accept that change will not happen overnight. And those close to you need to understand and accept that too.
• MASTER YOUR HEALING & HAPPINESS - Basically as it says, you need to be the Master of your own Healing and Happiness.

​So there you have it! I gave you Flint Rehab’s 25 Stroke Recovery Tips for Healing, Habits and Happiness. I covered the first 9 in my 4/2/19 Therapy Post, 6 last week and the final 10 now.  I hope you find them as useful as I have. 

GOD BLESS! PEG

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.  Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." -- Helen Keller
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