The Dark Side of a Stroke

A stroke is a major traumatic life event. It will affect you and your surroundings deeply. Painting toy soldiers or building a model railway will not magically make that go away – but it will help with your recovery and mood along the way.

Take your mental health seriously. Seek professional help and guidance to address emotional and mental health issues.

There will be days when everything feels completely unfair and pointless. It is. Do your exercises and go outside and get some fresh air. Then come back and work on your models. Your damaged brain will be grateful.

Progress will be slow. Slo-mo plate tectonics slow. It’s a great opportunity to learn patience. I’m still working on that part. I’m sure I’ll get there eventually.

You will encounter plateaus where progress seems to stall. Stay persistent and keep moving forward.

And remember: if you stare too hard into the abyss, you might get a headache or something.