It's not easy to explain, if it's even possible, and even more difficult for someone else to understand. Part way through my recovery I suffered from hypersensitivity. It's easier looking back. At the time I didn't really know what was happening and just reacted instinctively. Seen from the outside it looked like j was depressed and not doing much, certainly less than I was. In reality I was avoiding pain. Pain caused by noise. Now noise isn't just sound, it's things happening, unexpected things, caused by other people. That meant laying in bed with my eyes shut like someone with an Aura Migraine would do. I've got a bit of an idea what they are like now. So when there was noise in the house I'd hide away in the bedroom. When the house was empty, I'd come out and do stuff. So to anyone else I was in the bedroom all the time. I was really doing well with exercise, stepping on the stairs, going up and down the stairs, walking outside, with a cane of course, and I even walked from bedroom to sliding doors in lounge with cane in the air. It looked and felt like progress. Then with the hypersensitivity, things were a struggle and I just couldn't do all the things I was doing. It's like a hill walk, up up up, and then a level bit, and some downs, before walking up again. I've had a year of suffering from noise and standing on a rocking wobbly boat. Not easy to do anything, and requires concentration. Not easy and tiring. Suddenly for no reason and no warning the boat has firmed up, not completely, but nearly, so I find myself just standing, not using my stick, not leaning against something, and not concentrating on it. To be able to just stand and look around I have to admit is thrilling. I have been positive all the time, glad to be alive. I enjoy talking to people but that became difficult and limited by my hypersensitivity. Frustrating, but even then I stayed positive. Recently I can suddenly do more. Nothing obvious has changed, but suddenly I can just do more, and start doing things I was around a year ago. I feel so happy that finally my brain is allowing me to get back. I can now have plans. I can start stair stepping again, start going up and down the stairs. I've not been up there in a long time. I remember going up to feed one of the new cats and stroke him and encourage him to explore outside the bedroom. I don't feel any different, still positive, but I am a bit cautiously, feeling optimistic about being able to do more. This episode just reinforces my view that only people who've had a stroke can really understand and talk to stroke victims and help them. I do think recovered stroke victims would be a great addition to a stroke ward, not full time, but as visitors, helpers.