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5 Books That Speak to the Experiences of Stroke Survivors

There are many resources out there that relate to the experiences of Stroke Survivors.


These are our top five picks for you to explore and share with those who may need support, insight, or a relatable narrative to read through.


 

Stronger After Stroke by Peter Levine


Stronger After Stroke puts the power of recovery in the reader's hands by providing simple-to-follow instructions for reaching the highest possible level of recovery. The book’s neuroplastic recovery model stresses repetition of task-specific practice, proper scheduling of practice, setting goals, and measuring progress to achieve optimal results. Researcher Peter G. Levine breaks down the science and gives survivors evidence-based tools to retrain the brain and take charge of recovery.


In easy-to-read sections, Stronger After Stroke introduces readers to leading-edge stroke recovery information while simplifying the process to attain specific benchmarks. Also included is a sample recovery schedule, a helpful glossary of frequently used stroke recovery terms, and a list of resources for readers to research emerging stroke recovery options.


 

The Brain That Changes by Norman Doidge


An astonishing new science called neuroplasticity is overthrowing the centuries- old notion that the human brain is immutable. In this revolutionary look at the brain, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Norman Doidge, M.D., provides an introduction to both the brilliant scientists championing neuroplasticity and the people whose lives they've transformed. From stroke patients learning to speak again to the remarkable case of a woman born with half a brain that rewired itself to work as a whole, The Brain That Changes Itself will permanently alter the way we look at our brains, human nature, and human potential.


 

To Roots and To Rise by Carole J Starr


As a brain injury survivor herself, author Carole Starr knows the depth of grief and loss of self that accompany brain injury, the challenge of coping with symptoms that are misunderstood by many and the peace that can come from accepting a new life and a new self. Carole describes the journey in a way that survivors, caregivers and professionals can relate to and learn from.


Knowing that many survivors struggle with reading and remembering what they read, Carole made the chapters in To Root & To Rise short. The font size in the print version is larger than average, to improve readability. There are also spaces between each paragraph, to reduce the overwhelmed feeling that can come from looking at too much text.


To Root & To Rise is a unique resource for anyone living with a traumatic brain injury, post-concussion syndrome, stroke, brain tumor or other brain trauma, for family caregivers and friends of brain injury survivors, for brain injury support groups and for medical and neuro-rehabilitation professionals.


 

The Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor


On the morning of the 10th December 1996, Jill Bolte Taylor, a thirty-seven-year-old Harvard-trained brain scientist experienced a massive stroke when a blood vessel exploded in the left side of her brain.


In My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey, Taylor brings to light a new perspective on the brain and its capacity for recovery that she gained through the intimate experience of awakening her own injured mind. The journey to recovery took eight years for Jill to feel completely healed. Using her knowledge of how the brain works, her respect for the cells composing her human form, and an amazing mother, Taylor completely repaired her mind and recalibrated her understanding of the world according to the insight gained from her right brain that December morning.


 

Healing and Happiness After Stroke by Kari Dahlgren

You’ve been working on healing your brain since day one of rehab. But when results start to slow down or you start to feel stuck, then you may have overlooked an equally important part of recovery: Happiness. By harnessing the power of positive psychology, you can boost self-esteem, overcome depression, break through plateaus, and find the motivation to achieve an amazing recovery. This inspiring self-help guide, complete with practical exercises and essential habits, provides a much needed pep-talk for every stroke survivor on their road to recovery. Based on scientific evidence, stories from stroke survivors, and years of self-help research, Healing and Happiness after Stroke has everything you need to get back on your feet and become a stronger version of yourself.



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