Reclaiming Confidence When You Lose Control

Two women talking, one is seated on a couch opposite the other woman in a chair.

The Assumption of Certainty

We take a lot of things for granted, but probably the biggest thing is that we wake up each day and take for granted that we live to see another day and that our bodies are functioning correctly to allow us to do that.

The Shock of Betrayal and the Loss of Control

It is also a blow to our confidence because something that you trusted since birth is betraying you. And depending on the circumstance you may also feel that you can’t control your body in the way that you (blindly) thought you could before.

This was one of the hardest things that I had to process after my stroke. It is also something I think about often with Mom’s Alzheimer’s journey. Neither of us really ever had control of our bodies, but we confidently thought we did for a long time.

Developing Empathy for Unseen Struggles

Prior to my stroke, I also underestimated what others who have experienced this phenomenon were going through. 20% of adults globally are living with pain. I can’t imagine having to deal with those medical issues along with the daily reminder that you don’t have control over your body.

Three Years Later: The Danger of Forgetfulness

Now, 3 years later, I think I am forgetting and starting to take my body and it’s abilities for granted again, which I guess is to be expected, but I feel like it means I’m starting to lose some of the lessons from my stroke.

Healing, Hesitation, and Moving Forward

Time, therapy, and surgery have helped me to be more confident in my body’s ability again. There are still days that I worry I have missed something and that it is a symptom of my stroke, perhaps that will continue for a bit.

What is something you have done to get your confidence back?