Stroke Recovery Rehab

Blair Ames
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Twice Monthly

Your short, five-minute insight into life after stroke, offering practical tips to support recovery. strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com

  1. How Slacklining Can Benefit Stroke Survivors

    22 June

    How Slacklining Can Benefit Stroke Survivors

    Much to my surprise, one of the most effective practices to help my stroke-affected left leg feel more like the leg I remember and less like a thousand-pound steel beam has been slacklining – a sport I knew little about pre-stroke. In this episode, I describe my experiences with slacklining after stroke and why this has become one of my favorite lower-body rehab exercises. For more information about slacklining and the case studies on slacklining in stroke recovery, be sure to review the links and resources in this article: https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2024/10/01/balancing-recovery-how-slacklining-can-benefit-stroke-survivors/ For more stories from stroke recovery like this, read the free monthly newsletter at https://strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com

    9 min
  2. Becoming Someone New After Stroke

    11 June

    Becoming Someone New After Stroke

    After a stroke, you can look “fine” to others but feel completely different inside as you work through identity shifts, frustration, fear of another stroke, and more. In this episode, I’m joined by Florence Acosta of the Becoming You With Florence Acosta newsletter to discuss some key takeaways from our recent article - The Hidden Mental Health Journey in Stroke Recovery. *Note: This podcast was originally recorded as a Substack Live event on June 10, 2026. Key Moments (1:20) About Florence (3:00) Mental health after stroke (5:30) Looking in the mirror can feel unfamiliar (8:20) Daily routines after stroke (9:50) Consistency is important (10:10) Life is divided into before and after (12:30) Driving after stroke (15:00) Experiences with stroke caused by ruptured AVM (17:30) Gamma Knife radiation treatments after stroke (20:20) Creative writing after stroke (22:40) Accepting help after stroke (24:30) Therapy as live journaling (25:00) Connecting with others through writing (27:00) How to connect with Florence This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com

    29 min
  3. The Best Advice I Received After Stroke

    28 May

    The Best Advice I Received After Stroke

    Like anyone else, I received some great – and not so great – advice from doctors, therapists, friends, and family members on how I could improve my recovery after stroke. In this episode, I reflect on some early experiences after stroke and share some of the best advice I received, some of the worst, and some advice that I would now give other stroke survivors. For more information on any of the subjects discussed in this episode, be sure to review the links and resources included in this article: https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2026/04/01/the-best-advice-i-received-after-stroke/ For more stories from stroke recovery like this, read the free monthly newsletter at https://strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com

    7 min
  4. Avoiding Learned Helplessness After Stroke

    20 May

    Avoiding Learned Helplessness After Stroke

    Learned helplessness is an underrated challenge in stroke recovery. How do you push yourself safely when you’re not sure what your true abilities may be? In this episode, I share an article I wrote with my friend and fellow stroke survivor Nir Peled on the importance of not shying away from the challenges that stroke recovery brings. To learn more about Nir or any of the topics covered here, be sure to review the links and resources in this article: https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2026/02/01/embracing-the-challenges-of-stroke-recovery/ For more stories like this from stroke recovery, read the free monthly newsletter: https://strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com

    9 min
  5. Navigating the Emotional Challenges After Stroke

    28 Apr

    Navigating the Emotional Challenges After Stroke

    Stroke can fundamentally change who we are, how we process information, and how we react to situations. Feelings of irritability, confusion, anger, and anxiety are common after stroke. I was oblivious to any mental or emotional challenges I might face in stroke recovery during my time in the hospital and inpatient rehab. However, once I returned home and my physical abilities did not come back as quickly as I wished them to, the mental and emotional side of recovery proved to be a much more significant challenge than any physical exercise. In this episode, I share my thoughts on why the emotional aspect of recovery after stroke can be harder than the physical side and three strategies to support emotional recovery after stroke. For more information on post-stroke anger, depression, or any of the strategies I’ve highlighted here, be sure to review the links and resources that I’ve included in this article: https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2023/06/01/navigating-the-emotional-challenges-after-stroke/ For more stories like this from stroke recovery, read the free newsletter at: https://strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com

    8 min
  6. Returning to the Gym After Stroke

    20 Apr

    Returning to the Gym After Stroke

    Stroke survivors know that recovery doesn’t end when the physical and occupational therapy sessions end. Instead, you’re often on your own to find a way to rebuild your strength after a stroke, and the gym can be an important part of that. In this episode, I share some of my challenges with working out in a gym after stroke and four strategies that helped me feel comfortable in the gym again. For more information on myo-reps or the benefits of unilateral training, be sure to review the links and resources that I’ve included in this article: https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2026/03/01/returning-to-the-gym-after-stroke/ For more resources and stories from stroke recovery, read the free newsletter at https://strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com

    8 min
  7. A Simple Nutrition Plan for Stroke Survivors: The 800-gram Challenge

    25 Mar

    A Simple Nutrition Plan for Stroke Survivors: The 800-gram Challenge

    After stroke, just the thought of planning a meal, cooking it, and cleaning all the dishes felt overwhelming for me. It seemed impossible that I could do all of that in a timely manner. As I was stuck at home with little energy to cook and no ability to go to the grocery store alone, I was reminded of the 800-gram challenge, a simple nutritional framework that encourages you to eat more fruits and vegetables. In this episode, I share my experiences with this simple diet challenge, which became the nutritional plan that I leaned on in the earliest weeks and months of recovery. For more information on nutritional strategies for stroke survivors, such as the 800-gram challenge, be sure to review the links and resources that I’ve included in this article: https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2023/07/01/a-simple-nutrition-plan-for-stroke-recovery-the-800-gram-challenge/ For more stroke recovery resources, read the free newsletter at https://strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com

    7 min
  8. Learning How the Brain Heals

    10 Mar

    Learning How the Brain Heals

    In this episode, I’ll recap an article I recently wrote with the Brain Injury Association of America, reflecting on some lessons learned through four years of stroke recovery. I share some thoughts on how neuroplasticity provides hope for stroke survivors, how to embrace change after stroke, and how to learn from setbacks in the years-long journey that is recovery after stroke. For more information about the Brain Injury Association and to find their many resources on brain injury and stroke recovery, visit the association’s website at BIAUSA.org. For more stroke recovery resources, read the free monthly newsletter at https://strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com

    7 min
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About

Your short, five-minute insight into life after stroke, offering practical tips to support recovery. strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Blair Ames
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Blair Ames
  • Show Website
    Stroke Recovery Rehab

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