It was an ordinary Friday night just a few weeks ago, I had had a busy day with my five-year-old, and my husband and I were watching TV and talking.

Very suddenly my head went into a massive ‘fog’. I felt as though I was leaving my own body. I laid down because I felt so faint and unable to support myself. My right side started with pins and needles and when I tried to squeeze my hand – it wouldn’t move. I started panicking and then it became hard to swallow. I pushed myself up and tried to tell my husband what was happening – but nothing was coming out. He just kept asking what’s wrong and all I could do was just make slurred noises. He phoned an ambulance and after waiting for some time he decided to just carry me to the car and drive up to the hospital himself.

They put me on a trolley and took me straight for a CT scan, then within minutes they gave me the time restrictive clot-busting treatment (thrombolysis).

Just over a week later I was allowed to go home with the help of the early discharge unit. Writing this I am now six weeks post-stroke and although my physical effects are better, I am suffering with anxiety, neuro fatigue, forgetfulness, confusion, sensory problems and headaches.

I couldn’t wait to get home, but as soon as I did, I had an overwhelming sense of fear and panic, After working with my occupational therapist and joining the DS Facebook group, my confidence is growing every day. My first post on the group was a very depressed one – I was offered so much support and reassurance from the group – tips on how to manage the after-effects down to music recommendations that helped to calm anxiety! I was recommended a London Grammar album from one of the members that have really helped me!

It’s lovely to talk to people going through the same things and getting that reassurance. I never realised how common strokes were, especially in younger people.

I now get to post my own success stories there ad offer reassurance to others.

I wish I knew more about stroke beforehand. I also wish more people knew the invisible effects that a stroke leaves you with.

For the future, I am hoping to keep building my confidence, to eventually curb my anxiety enough to go out alone again.