Wolfgang Wolf, 'The Stroke Mentor'
  • About Lability and PBA.
  • A job they never thought of doing..
  • "Please, don't help me!"
  • I used to drive a BMW, now...
  • Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.
  • Possible steps we have to take due to Covid-19.
  • Snippets.

I used to drive a BMW, now I get around in a wheelchair.

12/2/2019

0 Comments

 
There are two kinds of change – voluntary and involuntary change. Whereby voluntary, means “with our consent”. Celebrating a long awaited promotion, tying the knot, buying a house, our children’s wedding, the birth of our grandchildren, retirement, etc..
They are the happy occasions.  
On the other hand are the not so pleasant changes. Those with a sudden onset, like accidents, or acquired illnesses.  
The positive changes, even though we can prepare and plan for them, can create a fair amount of stress. Imagine the disarray we are thrown into if an unexpected change is forced upon us.                      
We just don’t like change. Usually it is not until something serious happens  that we reluctantly deal with it, and only because we have to. Up till then we build our “nest”, our comfort zone. We all do, and we do not like to leave it. Because beyond the comfort zone is the panic zone. In fact, ca. 80% of people live their life within their comfort zone.
A stroke is one such unexpected change that throws us out off our comfort zone, and forces us to deal with a new situation. Of course we have to give up some material things. Actually, the more we give up, the better it is. Because it helps our rehabilitation. The most important step of rehabilitation is to leave the “old” life behind, and build a “new” one.
It starts some time during the hospital stay. Every stroke victim has to admit that a major disturbance has happened to his or her body. A disturbance that has a major effect on their life. In fact, their life will never be the same again. Some will spend the rest of their days con-  nected to a respirator, others won’t ever be able to talk again, others won’t walk.
 
This is the time when we are confronted with a truth we don’t want 
to accept. Most stroke victims find that accepting that something 
is wrong is the most difficult part. For me – it slowly dawned on me that I had lost a lifestyle. I had to exchange my BMW for a wheel-chair, my comfortable pay packet for handouts.
 
Many live in denial for weeks, yes months. No matter how much we used our body, whether someone was athletic, or a couch potato, there is still a sense of loss, because one enjoyed a non-competitive walk along the beach, while the other equally enjoyed a walk to the fridge to get another beer. 
 
If you’ve had a stroke, that’s too bad, but it is absolutely no reason to feel sorry for yourself. You can’t blame anyone else, and you can’t 
say that everyone else is better off. Because they are not – at least not necessarily. They maybe are, physically. But emotionally?  
Our emotional wellbeing is governed by the interaction with other people, that is caregivers, visitors, the postman, etc., any social contact we might have. 
                      
Isn’t it up to us to make this social interaction a positive experience? So, one could say: “The good thing about a stroke (at least, sort of) is that we are in control of building our “new” life, while already knowing what to avoid. This means we can become a better person, and make other people happy”.                                                                                                          

Isn’t this what life is all about?

Please click here to go to the Stroke Mentor's page.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Wolfgang Wolf
    BSocP (Counselling), Dip. Cdm. ​​

    In 1990 Wolfgang had a major stroke, which he barely survived. It left him in a wheelchair, unable to write, barely able to stand, and talk. He did not give up and feel sorry for himself, but went on to orchestrate this change to his new life, and take control of it. While he recovered and adjusted to life in a wheelchair he wrote a book, an electronic, revised version of which is now on Amazon. After this he studied and completed a Bachelor of Social Practice (Major: Counselling) and a Diploma in Community Development.  
    While studying he founded, and still chairs, “Computers Against Isolation”, a registered charity which provides people who live with disabilities with computers.    

    Before his stroke he worked in Advertising and Direct Marketing. Today he is active in the stroke community, does 
    counselling work, and appears as a public speaker
    . ​ 

    ​You do not need a Kindle Reader. ​

    Picture
    Just download "Free Reading Apps" for your smart phone, laptop, or tablet.
    A compelling account of adjusting to life after stroke. Experiences, obstacles, and questions you might have​.
Proudly powered by Weebly