Patient Advice
Topic 8: Deal with fear of another stroke
I don't think about it too much
Scott’s advice: I know there is a chance I could have another stroke. But to be honest, I think if I let myself think about that too much, then I would find it very difficult to actually get on with my life now. I would be forever living in fear of having another stroke, which may never happen, rather than actually enjoying the life that I’ve got.
I know what to do because I've been there before
Eileen’s advice: When I’m having another episode, I tell myself – excuse my language – b***** h***, can’t believe it! But the optimist in me says ‘I know what to do because I’ve been there before. I can come back from there again’. The difficulty is going backwards and trying to find my ‘now’. I try something on that level. If it doesn’t work out, I go back a bit more and a bit more, until I feel comfortable. I may feel discouraged and annoyed, but I need to find out how to go backwards to go forwards.