Hi All,
Just back from a week long trip to the Scottish highlands. Thought I would share some pictures and some of the stresses and joys of taking holidays post stroke.
I have now taken 2 holidays since my stroke in May 25. One in spain and this latest one in the UK.
In both cases I struggled with anxiety before I travelled and on the day of travel. This is mainly due to the worry about how I would cope if I got ill. How I would cope with the limitations and challenges my stroke has left me with etc.
What I have learnt is that good planning and family support is key. Check out where you are going, it may help your anxiety to make a note of where the local Drs surgery or hospital is. Let your family know about your anxiety, often we get stuck in our heads with it and talking openly about it can help to reduce its power.
Challenge your anxious thoughts and try to replace them with more positive ones. Our subconscious believes what we tell ourselves internally, so tell it a good story about how you are going to have a great holiday and all the things you are looking forward to.
There may well be challenges on your holiday but that does not mean it can’t be enjoyable.
Some of the nicest parts of my holiday was realising how much my family enjoyed the time away. Seeing them laugh and have fun made me feel lighter and better able to cope with my stroke challenges whilst away. Just being in nature and sharing the beauty with others who hadn’t seen the places we visited before was very rewarding. I may no longer be able to walk up mountains but I can still admire their majesty and the awe they inspire.
Be honest with those you travel with, about what you can and can’t do. Don’t see it as limitations but rather as an opportunity to have a more restful holiday.
We stayed in a lovely village called Roy bridge just outside Fort William, here are some pictures from our visit.
best of luck on your forward journey and thank you for sharing such an uplifting story:two_hearts: