Will You Endure the Stigma of Brain Damage? The Hillary Drama

The recent hoopla about Carl Rove and Hillary Clinton reads just like politics as usual in light of the potential high stakes job that Hillary Clinton may soon be vying for.

But the story underscores a serious concern for survivors of a stroke or any serious brain condition  - whether head trauma, meningitis, Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis. Normal everyday survivors who rely on an income from work share a deep fear that competence will be questioned after a brain related illness.

Brain conditions, in particular, share a common stigma. Even regular folks often worry that professional rivals will call into question judgement and insight, undermining credibility at work. The balance between taking enough time to recover and proving capabilities can be daunting for many people who want to resume professional challenges and wages from work.

What is the solution?

1. Be honest with yourself. Take stock of your abilities and take advantage of the opportunities to communicate with your doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. Stroke outcome is variable. Some people are severely incapacitated, while some suffer from moderate impairment. On the other hand, many stroke survivors only experience mild impairment, while others are fortunate enough to recover completely. There are objective methods of measuring disability and they can help you judge your own capabilities.

2. Take time to recover. If you have suffered from a stroke and have been able to emerge with little neurological sequela, heed the warning and start taking care of your health.

3. Accept limitations. If your job will be impaired, make necessary changes in your work responsibilities. You will gain respect when you tackle tasks that you can excel at, rather than falling short.

Overall, the recent political story will likely blow over to be replaced by another. But it does highlight a common fear among stroke survivors- even those who are not high profile.