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Living the Full Catastrophe: A Mindfulness-Based Program to Support Recovery from Stroke.

Lori Gray

Healthcare November 19, 2020 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare8040498 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Autoethnography Peer reviewed
Sample size 1
Population The author, a stroke survivor and certified MBSR instructor
Intervention Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Topics Meditation
Keywords Medical education Stroke rehabilitation Mindfulness-based stress reduction Mindfulness-based stroke recovery
Key findings The author proposes a four-component Mindfulness-Based Recovery from Stroke (MBRfS) model that integrates a modified MBSR framework with four themes from her autoethnographic analysis: readiness to accept the stroke, navigating recovery uncertainties with awareness and self-responsibility, trusting the body's wisdom as a recovery "teacher", and integrating complex emotions with self-compassion and wholeness. She argues the model offers a supportive path for stroke recovery and recommends future studies with survivors, caregivers, and healthcare providers.

Abstract

Decades of research suggest that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training supports a greater capacity to live with chronic medical conditions and contributes to lowering stress levels. This paper introduces a model for a Mindfulness-Based Recovery from Stroke (MBRfS) for promoting stroke recovery, informed by the lived experience of the author (a stroke survivor and certified MBSR instructor), the research literature regarding MBSR training, and the specific challenges of stroke recovery. Four themes emerged from the autoethnographic analysis that informed the proposed model: Readiness to accept the stroke event and the acquired brain injury, navigating uncertainties of stroke recovery with awareness and self-responsibility for outcomes, trusting the inherent wisdom of the body as a stroke recovery "teacher", and increased capacity to integrate complex emotions with self-compassion, and a sense of wholeness. A four-component MBRfS model is offered, which consists of an integration amongst a modified MBSR framework, emergent attitudinal themes, and insights from the autoethnographic vignettes. The MBRfS model offers a path for providing participants with a supportive experience within stroke recovery. Recommendations and suggestions for future studies are offered to support the development of MBRfS for stroke survivors and their caregivers, as well as contributing to healthcare providers.

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Study Year Design Participants
The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan... 2017 Qualitative study with mixed-methods
The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Nurse Stress and Burnout Nurses in a hospital system 2004 Implementation study with mixed methods
An exploratory mixed methods study of the acceptability and effectiveness of mindfulness -based cognitive therapy for patients with active depression and anxiety in primary care Primary care patients with recurrent depression or recurrent depression and anxiety 2006 Exploratory mixed methods study n = 13
A qualitative study of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for depression Participants in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in a mental-health context 2001 Qualitative study n = 7
Effortless awareness: using real time neurofeedback to investigate correlates of posterior cingulate cortex activity in meditators' self-report Meditators 2013 Qualitative study using grounded theory methodology

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