Stroke Recovery Rehab

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

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

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

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

After a stroke, it’s easy to say no to new activities or challenging situations. But while that may feel good in the moment, the comfort trap of learned helplessness is often where progress in recovery slows down.

In this episode, I’m joined by Nir Peled, a stroke survivor and author of the Beyond 100% newsletter, to discuss key takeaways from an article we wrote, Embracing the Challenges of Stroke Recovery.

*Note: This podcast was originally recorded as a Substack Live event on February 16, 2026.

Key Moments:

(1:15) About Nir

(4:30) Learning From Near-Death Experiences

(7:25) Why Getting Too Comfortable is a Trap

(12:00) It’s Easy to Say No After a Stroke

(17:05) The Importance of Rest

(17:45) The “Don’t Get Injured” Rule

(22:15) Listening to Your Subconscious vs. External Voices

(24:05) The “Learning From Experts” Rule

(29:00) Giving Yourself Grace

(31:10) How to Connect With Nir

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

The first year after a stroke is often held up as this holy grail of how long it will take to recover.

While it is true that significant progress can be made in year one, recovery after stroke doesn’t end after 12 months.

You can continue to see and feel improvements in your abilities for many years after stroke.

In this episode, I share some thoughts on stroke recovery timelines and why setting aggressive deadlines in your recovery can sometimes backfire.

For more information on stroke recovery timelines, be sure to review the links and resources that I’ve included in this article: https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2024/08/01/the-dangers-of-setting-deadlines-in-stroke-recovery/

For more stroke recovery resources, 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

In this episode, I share my experiences with walking backward in recovery after stroke and how this simple exercise turned out to be pretty helpful.

Studies show that stroke survivors may benefit from walking backward in a variety of ways.

For example, there’s evidence that this practice can improve a stroke survivor’s balance and gait – a person’s manner of walking.

In my experience, the cliché “The faster you can move backward, the faster you can move forward” was certainly true for me.

For more information on how walking backward can help stroke survivors, be sure to review the links and resources that I’ve included in this article: https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2023/09/01/the-many-benefits-of-walking-backward-in-stroke-recovery/

For more stroke recovery resources, 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

A good night’s sleep is one of the most important things that can improve recovery after a stroke since it’s critical for neuroplasticity.

Unfortunately, a common side effect of stroke is trouble sleeping. In turn, every other aspect of recovery is subsequently made more challenging than it already is without a good night’s sleep.

In this episode, I share my frustrating challenges with sleep after stroke and some of the supplements and simple lifestyle changes that helped me to sleep better after stroke

For more information on these strategies to improve sleep after stroke, be sure to review the links and resources that I’ve included in this article: https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2023/04/01/10-ideas-to-sleep-better-after-stroke/

For more stroke recovery resources, read the free monthly newsletter: https://strokerecoveryrehab.substack.com/

*The information provided on supplements in this episode and on others is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Consult your physician before starting any new supplement regimen.

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

In this episode, I’ll discuss my experiences with constraint-induced therapy after stroke and how this can be an effective practice for stroke survivors.

Constraint-induced movement therapy is exactly as it sounds – restraining one arm behind the back, so the stroke-affected arm and hand must perform the required activity.

Although some rehabilitation facilities provide specialized constraint-induced movement therapy sessions, it’s a simple training exercise that can be done at home.

The modified version of constraint-induced therapy can be done by placing one arm behind your back without restraint and forcing yourself to use your stroke-affected hand for any activity.

For more information on constraint-induced therapy practices, be sure to review the links and resources I’ve included in this article: https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2024/04/01/why-constraint-induced-therapy-is-important-after-stroke/

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

Anxiety is a common side effect of stroke, especially considering people can worry about having another stroke.

Research indicates that roughly 20% of stroke survivors may have anxiety-related issues.

After stroke, I’ve found a variety of breathing exercises to be helpful in navigating the frustrating challenges that a stroke can cause, including anxiety.

In this episode, I’ll be discussing two simple breathing patterns that have helped me work through some post-stroke anxiety.

For more information on post-stroke anxiety and the breathing exercises I’ve mentioned, be sure to review the links and resources in this article: https://strokerecoveryrehab.com/2024/09/01/simple-breathing-practices-to-manage-anxiety-after-stroke/

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