Recovery isn’t just about the physical side of things

By Bev

When I had my stroke at 82, it didn’t feel dramatic. I didn’t have the big, obvious signs people talk about. But it still turned my life upside down in ways I didn’t expect.

Yes, there are the physical things. The fatigue that just won’t quit. The strange temperature swings where I’m boiling hot and freezing cold at the same time. The odd vision issues. And the big one for me… not being able to drive.

That loss of independence is enormous. You lose your spontaneity. You can’t just hop in the car and go. Everything has to be planned. You find yourself asking for lifts and thinking, “Am I being a pain in the neck?”

But what I’ve learned is that recovery isn’t just about the physical side of things.

It’s about how you live your life.

And for me, that’s where joy, imagination, play and connection come in.

I’ve always had a bit of theatre in me. In my younger years I was involved in it, and later in life I thought about going back. But the idea of learning lines again? No thank you.

Then a friend suggested improv. Perfect. No lines. Just play.

I joined an improv group and honestly, it’s been one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. It keeps my brain firing. It keeps me playful. It keeps me connected to other people - and improvisers are just a lovely bunch of humans.
What improv has really given me is permission to use my imagination again.

You know how, as children, we play imaginary games without even thinking about it? Then somewhere along the way, that gets knocked out of us.

Improv brings that back.

It makes you think on your feet. It reminds you that you don’t have to get it “right.” There’s no script. You can’t make a mistake.

And after a stroke, that’s actually quite powerful.

Because so much of recovery can feel serious and structured. Appointments, exercises, managing fatigue. Important things, of course. But you also need lightness. You need joy.

For me, play has been a big part of keeping my spirits up.

Now, I know not everyone is going to rush out and join an improv group. And that’s perfectly fine. But you can bring a bit of that play and imagination into your own home.

Here are a few simple things I love that you can try with family, friends, kids or grandkids:

Word at a Time
You build a story together, one word at a time, going around the group. It can be just two people or more. If someone feels the story has come to a natural end, they say “full stop” and you start again. It’s surprisingly fun and can get quite silly.

Mind Meld
This is one of my favourites. Someone gives you a starting word, like “sausage.” Two people each say a word they associate with it. For example, “breakfast” and “barbecue.” Then you keep going, each time saying a word linked to the previous two, trying to land on the same word at the same time. When you do, that’s a Mind Meld. It can take a while, but that’s half the fun.

I’m a Tree
This one is a bit more physical. One person starts by saying, “I’m a tree,” and holds a pose. The next person joins in as something related, maybe a bird in the tree. The next might be someone chopping it down. It builds from there. You just do your best and have a laugh.

These might sound simple, but they get your brain working, your imagination going, and they bring people together.

If I could say anything to others going through stroke recovery, it would be this. Take the support that’s offered. People do want to help. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to figure everything out at once. Do a little bit each day. Even one small task can make you feel like you’ve achieved something.

Stay connected. It really does make all the difference. And if you can, find something that brings you joy.