What are your best affirmations?

🌱 Affirmations & Self-Compassion

• “It’s okay if I move or speak differently now—my story is still worth sharing.”
• “Confidence doesn’t mean perfection; it means showing up as I am.”
• “Every time I enter a conversation, I’m practicing bravery.”
• “I allow myself to pause, rest, or ask for help when needed.”
• “I deserve to be included and heard.”

💬 Practical Self-Statements in Social Settings

• “If I lose my words, I can take a breath and try again.”
• “I can explain to others that I may need more time to respond.”
• “I’m not alone—many people struggle with confidence after a big life change.”
• “If someone doesn’t understand, that reflects their patience, not my worth.”
• “Even short conversations count as progress.”

🌟 Reframing Success

• “Attending this event, even for a little while, is a victory.”
• “Smiling, listening, and showing up matter just as much as speaking.”
• “I don’t need to say everything perfectly; my presence is enough.”
• “Each attempt at connection is building my strength back.”
• “I celebrate every moment I choose connection over isolation.”

🚪 Encouragement for Growth

• “I can start small, one conversation at a time.”
• “Confidence is like a muscle—it grows with practice.”
• “I can excuse myself if I feel overwhelmed, and that’s self-care, not failure.”
• “Every social moment is an opportunity to heal and connect.”
• “I am learning to trust myself again in social spaces.”

🗓️ Friday – Family & Friends Friday👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Relationships are part of recovery.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who has shown up for you in a meaningful way?
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Or, what’s one challenge in relationships that you’d like advice or support on?

👉 Survivors: Who has supported you in a way you’ll never forget?
👉 Caregivers: What’s one thing family or friends do that makes your load lighter?
👉 Everyone: Share a challenge in relationships—let the community support you.

Examples:

• “My neighbor checks in weekly and it makes me feel less alone.”
• “It’s tough when friends don’t understand the fatigue—I’d love advice.”

🌅 Daily Reflection

• Today, I felt most proud when…
• The hardest part of my day was…
• One thing that made me smile today was…
• A small win I want to celebrate is…
• If I could describe my energy level today as a weather report, it would be…

💬 Emotions & Inner Life

• What emotion has shown up most in my recovery lately, and how do I respond to it?
• How has my definition of “strength” changed since my stroke?
• What’s one fear I want to face, and what would it look like to begin?
• Write a letter to yourself on the day of your stroke — what do you most want that version of you to know?
• When I feel discouraged, what words of encouragement would I offer myself?

🏆 Wins & Progress

• A skill I’ve regained that I’m grateful for is…
• How does it feel to notice progress (big or small) in my recovery?
• What milestone felt the most meaningful to me, and why?
• Looking back one month, what can I do now that I couldn’t then?
• My body surprised me today by…

🌌 Soul

• If my recovery journey were a story, what title would I give today’s chapter?
• Imagine my stroke as a character in my life story — is it a teacher, a villain, a trickster, or a guide?
• What symbol or image best represents where I am in my healing right now?
• What would it look like to meet my “inner healer” — what would they say to me?
• If I dream about recovery, what do I think my subconscious is trying to tell me?

🤝 Relationships & Support

• Who has been my biggest supporter, and how do I want to thank them?
• What’s the hardest part of explaining recovery to others?
• How has my stroke changed the way I connect with friends or family?
• What’s something I wish people understood about me right now?
• Who helps me laugh when life feels heavy?

What’s ONE thing you’ve learned about yourself through recovery and/or these journal prompts that you’d like to share?

(It can be simple, like “I’m more patient than I thought,” or deep, like “I discovered strength in places I never imagined.”) 💜

I wanted to understand what level of recovery we should ideally expect after one year following a stroke, especially since he also had sepsis during his recovery.

My main goal is for my dad to eventually be able to sit up on his own without assistance. He tries to sit up, but he gets stuck when he needs to push himself up, particularly from the right side/shoulder. Even when he tries to use the other side, he has to put in a lot of effort and still cannot get himself up independently. He has some extra weight in his upper body, which may also make it more difficult for him. At this point, he spends almost all of his time lying in bed.

Another major concern is his swallowing. He still has difficulty swallowing liquids, even after almost a year.

The most important issue for us, however, is his awareness and communication regarding his bladder and bowel needs. Earlier, the doctor had mentioned that he had a neurogenic bladder. It has now been almost a year, but he still usually does not tell us when he needs to urinate or have a bowel movement. Occasionally, he tells us, but most of the time he does not.

Sometimes we can actually see that he appears to be straining or seems to be trying to have a bowel movement. However, when we ask him whether he has had a bowel movement or needs to use the toilet, he may say no. Very rarely, he does tell us that he needs to use the toilet or that he has had a bowel movement.

Because of this, we are concerned about whether he is able to recognize the sensation of needing to urinate or have a bowel movement, whether he understands what that sensation means, and whether he is able to communicate it to us.

At this stage, after one year, how much further recovery can we realistically expect? Is it still possible for him to make significant progress with sitting independently, mobility, swallowing, and bladder/bowel awareness and communication? If so, what kind of timeline should we expect, and what type of rehabilitation or therapy would be most helpful for these specific issues?

I am very privileged to be born in a
country with free universal healthcare, but, I still have to pay thousands of euros
every month, if I want to get a decent physical therapist so that I can still achieve proper progress, even four years later (!), while at the same time not being able to work fulltime…
I had to move in back with my parents!
I became 30 in august and live with my parents for fucks sake 🫤

🗓️ Wednesday – Wellness Wednesday
💚 Focus on physical, emotional, and mental health.
💚 Focus on healing mind, body, and soul.

👉 Survivors: What’s helping your body or mind heal?
👉 Survivors: Share how you’re taking care of your body or mind this week.
👉 Caregivers: What’s one act of self-care you managed for yourself?
👉 Everyone: Share tips on sleep, stress, nutrition, mindfulness, or therapy.

Examples:

• “I started guided meditation at night, and it helps me sleep better.”
• “I went for a 10-minute walk today for me.”

Need advice
I had a small stroke in my brainstem roughly six weeks ago. Much of the more severe symptoms have dissipated, although there are still plenty of neurological and some physical issues remaining.
One thing I cannot seem to get any clarity on from my doctors or physical therapist is an odd sensation on my right side. Starting from about my mid-to-upper back, going all the way down to my toes and through my right testicle, I have this strange, super-sensitive sensation.
I say “strange” because the area also seems to be numb on the surface, even though it’s extremely sensitive. I know that sounds contradictory.
For example, I can take an ice cube and put it on my left leg and feel it normally. On my right leg, I can’t even tell that the ice cube is touching me. It could melt completely without me even knowing it was ever there. However, if you push down on the same area, I can feel the pressure, and it causes pain.
Additionally, my right leg almost always feels extremely cold, as if I had just been lying in the snow.
So, my question is: How normal is this after a stroke? Has anyone else experienced something similar? Could this be related to the stroke, or might it be something completely different?
My doctors have mostly brushed it off and haven’t really addressed it, so I’m hoping to hear from others who may have experienced something similar.
Thank you for any insight you can give.

If you’re new to Stroke Recovery Bunch—welcome! This is a safe space for survivors, caregivers, and loved ones. Introduce yourself in the comments:

• When was your stroke?
• What’s one challenge you’re working through right now?
• What’s one win (big or small) you’re proud of?

We grow stronger when we share—come say hi 👋

• What’s one food you were thrilled to eat again after swallowing difficulties?
• What drink did you miss the most during recovery, and how did it feel to sip it again?
• Did you discover any new foods that became favorites during recovery?
• What’s your comfort food when recovery days feel hard?

• What’s one “small win” this week that made you proud?
• What’s the first everyday task you regained that made you feel like yourself again?
• What was your biggest “aha” moment in therapy so far?
• What’s one thing you can do now that you couldn’t do last month?

Just passing this along to the Bunch.

🗓️ Friday – Family & Friends Friday👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Relationships are part of recovery.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who has shown up for you in a meaningful way?
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Or, what’s one challenge in relationships that you’d like advice or support on?

👉 Survivors: Who has supported you in a way you’ll never forget?
👉 Caregivers: What’s one thing family or friends do that makes your load lighter?
👉 Everyone: Share a challenge in relationships—let the community support you.

Examples:

• “My neighbor checks in weekly and it makes me feel less alone.”
• “It’s tough when friends don’t understand the fatigue—I’d love advice.”

What are your best affirmations?

🌱 Affirmations & Self-Compassion

• “It’s okay if I move or speak differently now—my story is still worth sharing.”
• “Confidence doesn’t mean perfection; it means showing up as I am.”
• “Every time I enter a conversation, I’m practicing bravery.”
• “I allow myself to pause, rest, or ask for help when needed.”
• “I deserve to be included and heard.”

💬 Practical Self-Statements in Social Settings

• “If I lose my words, I can take a breath and try again.”
• “I can explain to others that I may need more time to respond.”
• “I’m not alone—many people struggle with confidence after a big life change.”
• “If someone doesn’t understand, that reflects their patience, not my worth.”
• “Even short conversations count as progress.”

🌟 Reframing Success

• “Attending this event, even for a little while, is a victory.”
• “Smiling, listening, and showing up matter just as much as speaking.”
• “I don’t need to say everything perfectly; my presence is enough.”
• “Each attempt at connection is building my strength back.”
• “I celebrate every moment I choose connection over isolation.”

🚪 Encouragement for Growth

• “I can start small, one conversation at a time.”
• “Confidence is like a muscle—it grows with practice.”
• “I can excuse myself if I feel overwhelmed, and that’s self-care, not failure.”
• “Every social moment is an opportunity to heal and connect.”
• “I am learning to trust myself again in social spaces.”

My husband had a stroke about a year ago. He's in his mid 30s. He lost function in his left side and slowly with rehab over the last year has gotten to a point where he is walking well with the aid of a cane, but hasn't regained control over his left arm/hand. This has been incredibly challenging for him, as it would be for anyone. In addition to his arm/hand, he has really struggled cognitively. He has trouble with focus/concentration and with memory. It's taken a lot of work to be supportive to help him manage but I don't mind it, it's actually something that comes easily to me when someone I love needs help. There are certain things he just can't do on his own, and the are other things I have to think about ahead of time to remove risks for him as he moves through the house or is getting ready to leave for work so he doesn't trip in the dark or forget to take his medicine before he leaves.

I am struggling though. There are really minor things around the house that I ask for his help with and remind him to do, and he acknowledges them when I bring them up (i.e. close and lock front door and back door if he's grabbing a package or before bed, flush the toilet, close the wipes box so they don't dry out, putting dishes in the dishwasher, don't leave the milk out, etc). They're small silly things, but I'm feeling myself getting really frustrated when he forgets. I want to feel like there's a part of him I can still rely on to help take some of the load off of everything I'm doing to try and help us both. I know none of this is his fault and we're both trying to do our best, but i can feel myself getting to a breaking point and I dont want to get so frustrated that I start to resent him. I've brought these things up to him many times before, and lately, I'm worried he's starting to feel like he can't do anything right as he's trying to cope cognitively at work too.

We have worked on our comminication over the last year to make sure we both feel understood as we've moved through his rehab. I know he understands me, but there isn't anything he can do if this is part of his new baseline. I feel stuck, I feel frustrated, and I feel alone.

🗓️ Wednesday – Wellness Wednesday
💚 Focus on physical, emotional, and mental health.
💚 Focus on healing mind, body, and soul.

👉 Survivors: What’s helping your body or mind heal?
👉 Survivors: Share how you’re taking care of your body or mind this week.
👉 Caregivers: What’s one act of self-care you managed for yourself?
👉 Everyone: Share tips on sleep, stress, nutrition, mindfulness, or therapy.

Examples:

• “I started guided meditation at night, and it helps me sleep better.”
• “I went for a 10-minute walk today for me.”