Category: Heart and Stroke

things related to heart health, stroke, and general healthy living

cognitive model, Effects of stroke, Heart and Stroke, Moving through the world, Stroke Recovery and Background, Watching The WorldLeave a comment

Weaponizing Language; Using the "D" word

rbspecht

We learn very early in life how to weaponize language. School yard taunts, the verbal abuse we hurl at our siblings and our peers, the calculated assaults by our bullies begin to show us how language can be a weapon. Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me. “ –English language childhood rhyme How very wrong we are. Missteps and misuse of language can have serious consequences and unforeseen repercussions. Current culture shows us how language can be politicized and weaponized. Here are a couple of links to sites that discuss it; Weaponizing language historically … Continue reading Weaponizing Language; Using the "D" word

Effects of stroke, Heart and Stroke, Moving through the world, Observations, Stroke Recovery and Background, Stroke TimelineLeave a comment

Stroke Recovery Distress

rbspecht

The most emotionally devastating emotional pivotal point in stroke recovery is the moment when you discover what’s been truly lost and the realization that its not coming back. For family and friends this is a heartbreaking ‘call to action’ that so many are not equipped to answer. For the stroke victim this is a devastating epiphany. Things will never be the same again. A simple truth, yes, however, becoming aware of it and knowing it to be true shapes the future. Continue reading Stroke Recovery Distress

angiogram, Heart and Stroke, Moving through the world, my new normal, Stroke Recovery and Background, Takotsubo cardiomyopathyLeave a comment

Takotsubo Syndrome–how do you mend a broken heart?’

rbspecht

How do you mend a broken heart?  Lately we’ve been dealing with my darling wife’s encounter with Takotsubo Syndrome and the struggle to find the way through to an actual treatment protocol for this rare condition.   Takotsubo Syndrome is also … Continue reading Takotsubo Syndrome–how do you mend a broken heart?’

cancer, Effects of stroke, Heart and Stroke, Moving through the world, My Cancer JourneyLeave a comment

Self medicating and unilateral changes to dosages=dumb move

rbspecht

I was told recently about a woman who had tried to ween herself off her anti-depressants without consulting her doctor.  There were consequences.  She slipped back into a dark hole from which it took her a long time to find her way back into the light.  She resumed taking her meds, and then discussed it with her physician.  Her physician was kind, but blunt.  If you were a diabetic would you decide that you felt well enough to discontinue taking your insulin?  Some forms of depression are the same.  You don’t discontinue something that is working to restore and maintain … Continue reading Self medicating and unilateral changes to dosages=dumb move

cognitive model, Effects of stroke, Heart and Stroke, self-talk, Stroke Recovery and Background1 Comment

Behaviour Amplifications as a result of stroke

rbspecht

I’m just giving some serious thought to the amplified behaviors I’ve experienced as a result of my hemorrhagic stroke and the embolization used to stop the bleed in my brain. I’m still fighting some of those amplified behaviors, desperately working to wrestle the bad ones into submission while trying to coax the good ones  into becoming the representative ‘me’ which the real me hides behind. I’ve tried to find some sage articles on the subject that may be lurking in the corridors of the internet, but without a lot of success. There seems to be a passing nod of acknowledgement  and validation  given … Continue reading Behaviour Amplifications as a result of stroke