Toolkit
APPLE WATCH
During my first month home from the hospital, I experienced EXTREME anxiety and panic attacks. I was afraid that I would suffer another stroke. I was afraid of being alone.
One of our family helpers during that time, told me about the Apple Watch. She told me that it can detect a fall, and that I could set it up to call 911 or my husband if I fell, or if my heart rate suddenly changed.
I was never the type to get a wearable (essentially a phone on your wrist), but I was willing to try it for peace of mind. I placed my order during the last week of family help, to test it out.
From the first day of wearing it, my anxiety decreased, I no longer suffered panic attacks, and I had no fear of being alone. The apple watch restored my freedom & confidence. There have been a couple moments where I am out, alone, feeling slightly off. In these moments, I can check my heart rate, and vitals, and breathing, with the Apple Watch.
Vitamin supplements
This is only based on my personal experience. Run all of this by your doctor first.
After my stroke I fell into a major depression. My artery wasn’t healing quickly, and I didn’t understand why I survived (more on that later). After my second CT scan in October, my Neurologist told us that my artery tear was WORSE. I got scared straight to take better care of myself. Here are a couple things I started taking:
Vitamin C: helps damaged arteries!
Vitamin D3 (not with K, because I am on blood thinners, and K thickens the blood): helped with my depression
Collagen: helps repair arteries!
Vitamin B12 shots: this was a life changer for me. I had energy again, to start taking care of myself and get myself back on the road to recovery.
MEDITATION
After my stroke I suffered from severe anxiety about being left alone. I stayed awake the first night in the hospital, afraid I’d have another stroke.
Mediation or Quiet Time, whatever you want to call it, helps give my racing mind a needed break, or even distraction. A current fave of mine is Above the Noise with Russell Brand on Luminary. He really covers all kinds of meditations, and really does help set the tone to my mornings. I wake up, looking forward to hearing his voice. Thank you Russell.
friends & family crowdfunding
Crowd funding allowed myself and my family to not worry about money for a couple months while we got back on our feet.
In my case, I had signed our family up for the bare-minimum health plan that year, pretty much assuming nothing would happen. And guess what. Something happened. Our out-of-pocket was 8k, which started all over again once the new year hit. Luckily our gofundme covered that.
Childcare: again, in my case, I wasn’t able to lift Brooks or take care of him at the speed I needed to keep up with a 3 year old toddler boy. The gofundme helped pay for a daycare where he could go for a half day.
WEight loss
Lets just call this segment the long & winding road. I have a weight loss journey, but more importantly, I have a recovery journey, filled with ups, downs, plateaus, gains, losses, failures & successes.
What I am learning the hard or maybe “long” way, is that 1. take your life one day at a time. & 2. Re-define your definition of “success.
There are many other lessons I’ve accumulated along the way. Want to chat about it? You are not alone, I am not alone, we are all in this together, and maybe we are all in it together to drop the battle ALTOGETHER.
Instead of my before & after pics, I have a picture of someone that makes me genuinely hopeful for body neutrality: a smiling picture of my kid. Thats Brooks. I’m kinda here for him now. In doing that, I kinda have to just yeah, take things one day at a time, and when I feel like going for a walk, go for a walk. When I feel like having a cookie with him. I have a cookie with him. Amen.
lifesum
Podcasts that Keep me company:
Rich Roll!!! Wow he’s a hope factory!
Maintenance Phase!!! Wow Aubrey & Michael make me laugh, and they are my friends even though they might not know it yet.
Smartless!! super funny obvi.
insight timer
Insight Timer is my go-to app for meditation. Here are a few teachers that I adore:
David Ji: he encourages you to feather your nest, and I love that. He also has a 57 day body scan which is super helpful for body acceptance.
Tara Brach: Her voice, her stories, her calm demeanor, are like warm hugs.
Sharon Salzberg: She really breaks down the process and makes it so accessible.
Sarah Blondin: Check out her morning gratitude mediation. Its a treat.
NADAV: he has a few mantra meditations that helped me get back to sleep when I was having trouble sleeping.
walking
This is a picture of my dog Harold! Him and I log about 2.5 miles, 5 days a week. I might not always have time for walks, but when I do carve out about 45 minutes every day for a walk, my mind feels clear, my legs feel strong, and my dog is happier!