The first part of this book was written by Jody Mardula over a number of years following a life-threatening subdural hematoma that resulted in a stroke. At the time, Jody was working as Director of the Centre for Mindfulness, Research and Practice at Bangor University, UK. The stroke affected her psychologically and physically, and over time has impacted her neurological functioning. Mindfulness has been key to how she has sought to manage these life-changing and life-threatening events. The book describes Jody's personal experience of two strokes and a more recent diagnosis of vascular dementia, how she adapted short mindfulness practices to support herself, how she has sought to manage the impact of stroke and make meaning from it, and the impact of stroke on Jody’s family, work and wider relationships. It is illustrated with Jody's own line drawings.
Mindfulness and Stroke
is written chronologically, starting at a point just before Jody’s first stroke and finishing at a point called ‘The Ending and the Beginning’. There are seven sections, with four short chapters in each section and mindfulness approaches and practices woven in. Each chapter has a black ink illustration that seeks to illuminate the metaphor being explored. Jody’s text is supplemented and enhanced by material contributed by neuropsychology expert Frances Vaughan, an expert in neuropsychology. Frances’s brief ‘Neuro Notes’ comment on and explain the events being described in each section of Jody’s personal writing from a scientific perspective. Frances is also the author of Part Two of the book – ten chapters looking at brain injury and its impact on areas of life such as attention, memory, planning, self-awareness and identity.
The first book to deal directly with the relationship between the needs of people affected by stroke and the potential of mindfulness as a supportive intervention
Describes in moving detail what it is like to be personally affected by stroke, and presents simple, proven mindfulness practices that can help survivors cope
Written by an author with impeccable academic credentials who has used these techniques in practice to help her understand and manage her own condition
Includes pen and ink illustrations by the author (a former professional artist), depicting the events and metaphors being discussed in each chapter