I really relate to what you’re saying, but my experience was quite different. My body image after stroke was terrible because I kept comparing myself to who I was before. I used to be at the gym all the time, and suddenly, I only had one side of my body working. My entire left side was numb, I had to relearn how to walk, and even now, my left hand still doesn’t work.
For a long time, I felt like a stranger in my own body. I wasn’t just dealing with physical rehab—I was also grieving the person I used to be. It took me a long time to stop seeing my body as something broken and start seeing it as something I could work with. That shift didn’t happen overnight, and honestly, some days are still tough.
I found your point about protecting yourself really interesting. I think, in a way, I did the opposite—my focus was so much on what I lost that it was hard to move forward. Maybe there’s something in that balance—focusing on what needs to be done while also acknowledging how we feel about ourselves in the process.
That’s why this research means so much to me. We don’t talk enough about how stroke affects the way we see ourselves, and yet, it impacts so much—confidence, motivation, even how we engage with rehab. I really appreciate you sharing your perspective!
