I Miss My Old Self (Too)

Peter G. Levine
Stronger After Stroke

Sunday, April 26, 2015

I feel grrrreat!

One of the laments that I hear a lot from survivors is "I miss my old self." But please, survivors, keep in mind – we all miss our old self.

We often tend to look at the past fondly simply because we were young. But we're all getting older, slower, achier – and- as if tipping our hand of our aging interior – our looks take a hit.

I am as indestructible as I feel!

So let's say a stroke survivor had their stroke 10 years ago – when they were 40. Now they're 50, and they "Miss their old self." It is true that stroke ages you immediately. The estimate I read recently is that the stroke itself ages you at least five years. That is, your brain is five years older, your body is five years older, etc. – all within the first 24 hours of stroke. So when survivor say "I miss my old self," I can dig it.

Doing well!

I haven't had a stroke, but I can tell you, 50 ain't 40. That is, you wouldn't be how you remembered irrespective of the stroke. So when you compare, compare to the projection of yourself given the added age.

So, like the rest of us, as you work against the deficits of the stroke you are also working against father time.

Crap I didn't even
know I had aches.

I do know some stroke survivors who are in some of the best shape of their life after their stroke because this was really the first time in their life that they look after themselves.

See the original article:

I Miss My Old Self (Too)

in

Stronger After Stroke