Why a Support Group is So Important for Recovery from Stroke

Having a stroke can be a shocking and overwhelming experience…

And can bring many more questions than answers:

• Will I get better?
• Will I be able to drive again? Work again?
• How long does it take to recover my speech or improve my drop foot or minimize my spasticity?
• Will my friends accept me as I am?
• Why am I so tired? Irritable? Apathetic?
• Will I ever be the person I was before the stroke?
• What are the chances of having another stroke?
• What can I do now to prevent another stroke?
• If I don’t fully recover, what will my life be like?

Why a Stroke Survivor Might Consider a Support Group

Stroke can be very isolating, and isolation itself can cause depression and a loss of hope. A support group for stroke survivors can help answer questions, provide tools for coping more effectively, alleviate stress, and create an outlet for survivors to express their feelings and concerns within a caring and supportive environment.

The caregivers and family members of stroke survivors benefit from attending a support group of their own at which the well-being of the caregiver is the primary focus.

Stroke Support Association has been holding separate in-person support groups for stroke survivors and caregivers in the Long Beach, California area for more than 40 years. A few years ago, we added online groups, which have attracted stroke survivors and caregivers from all over the country and beyond. Time and again, our facilitators witness a newcomer find empathy, hope, and encouragement from those who understand as no one else can — other stroke survivors.  The identification with fellow stroke survivors and the social interaction at a first meeting alone can lift the spirits of a newcomer as they realize there is hope and that they are not alone.

Whether you are a stroke survivor and their family caregiver, please come join our support group!

Categorized in: SSA News