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