Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Part 1 Unwinding a Self 11
Chapter 1 A Slow Fall off a Cliff 12
Chapter 2 Everything Can Fail 24
Chapter 3 A Teacher without Words 34
Chapter 4 Moving Forward 43
Part 2 What It's Really Like, Outside and Inside 57
Chapter 5 The Grind of Therapy 58
Chapter 6 Let Me Talk! 67
Chapter 7 Grief 79
Chapter 8 Lean On 88
Chapter 9 Stroke Is a Family Illness 102
Chapter 10 Partners and Intimacy 121
Chapter 11 People Are Social Animals 134
Chapter 12 How the World Responds 148
Chapter 13 Activities Adapted 156
Chapter 14 Careers and Callings 163
Chapter 15 Dealing with Financial Strain 174
Chapter 16 Advocating in the U.S. Medical System 182
Part 3 Redefining Recovery 193
Chapter 17 Reclaiming the Basics 194
Chapter 18 Choice in Our New Identities 205
Chapter 19 Fulfillment through Growth 221
Acknowledgments 227
Appendix I Survivor Biographies 235
Appendix II Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs 257
Notes 259
References 269
Index 275
About the Authors 281