Depression.

[TribbleZA]

@FiestaST

Do keep it up sir, you are doing your body and mental health a great service.

I had a stroke a few months ago. Luckily only a TIA which means the clot passed and did not do long term damage. However when I went for the head and neck CT scan they discovered I had chronic micro-vascular disease affecting my brain and extremities. I always attributed my cognitive decline to getting older but noticed things getting a lot worse the past few years.

I've struggled with depression for a long time but these past few months have been especially hard. I had to quit alcohol, reduce my nicotine intake and completely overhaul my diet. I don't always get the chance to take walks during the week but I've been forcing myself to take a 5.6km round trip to a neighbouring Spar every weekend and it's been helping. Not easy because of pain in my limbs if I haven't walked for a while but afterwards it's quite a relief and clears my head.

Oh wow that must be stressful. My brother in law found out yesterday that he has had two small stokes. He had no idea. I am glad you are working on changing your situation.

He is rather excited - they are mapping his brain today.

 

[AnimateX]

Oh wow that must be stressful. My brother in law found out yesterday that he has had two small stokes. He had no idea. I am glad you are working on changing your situation.

He is rather excited - they are mapping his brain today.

Hoping for the best for your brother in law. Yes it was not something I was expecting. When you wake up with half your body dead, it's a bit of a wake up call (some pun intended). It took some time before I came to terms with my new situation, having to take anti-coagulant medication, give up my old habits and completely alter my lifestyle to hope to not have the same thing happen again.

Thing is.. I caused this, decades of alcohol abuse and smoking and ignoring high blood pressure and cholesterol so I can't even shout at the heavens to say "why me?!".

When you are young you don't consider your future health much and that is understandable, most of us have this vision of our best selves continuing in our lives without disastrous life events. If I had to go back obviously I would change things but this is my life now. I have had to accept that.

If anything I hope I can persuade people to make changes in their lives now. It might seem impossible but I quit weed 4 years ago after 26 years of addiction, have given up alcohol this year and reduced my nicotine intake by 80%. I still have my difficult moments but I sometimes get fleeting moments of happiness which I have not experienced in years. It's wanting to become a better version of yourself even if you have to go through hell temporarily. Going to take this one step at a time.

 

[TribbleZA]

Hoping for the best for your brother in law. Yes it was not something I was expecting. When you wake up with half your body dead, it's a bit of a wake up call (some pun intended). It took some time before I came to terms with my new situation, having to take anti-coagulant medication, give up my old habits and completely alter my lifestyle to hope to not have the same thing happen again.

Thing is.. I caused this, decades of alcohol abuse and smoking and ignoring high blood pressure and cholesterol so I can't even shout at the heavens to say "why me?!".

When you are young you don't consider your future health much and that is understandable, most of us have this vision of our best selves continuing in our lives without disastrous life events. If I had to go back obviously I would change things but this is my life now. I have had to accept that.

If anything I hope I can persuade people to make changes in their lives now. It might seem impossible but I quit weed 4 years ago after 26 years of addiction, have given up alcohol this year and reduced my nicotine intake by 80%. I still have my difficult moments but I sometimes get fleeting moments of happiness which I have not experienced in years. It's wanting to become a better version of yourself even if you have to go through hell temporarily. Going to take this one step at a time.

That is amazing and inspirational. As we get older, we all should make changes to our lifestyles. I am at that point now where I have to do something before it is too late.