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Anshul Bhadwaj: Breaking the Silence on Sexual Health and Dignity After Stroke

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Erectile Dysfunction After Stroke: One Survivor’s Courageous Truth About Intimacy and Bowel Control

When Anshul Bhadwaj collapsed at his gym in Delhi at just 27 years old, he thought his life was ending. The thunderclap headache, the dizziness, the vomiting he was certain he was having a heart attack. What he didn’t know was that his brain was bleeding, and the hemorrhagic stroke he was experiencing would challenge not just his ability to walk, but his sense of manhood, dignity, and identity.

What Anshul shares in this conversation is what most stroke survivors won’t talk about: the loss of erectile function, the inability to control his bowels and bladder, and the profound shame that came with both. But his story isn’t just about loss, it’s about the courage to speak openly about these taboo topics, the journey back to dignity, and the mission to ensure others don’t suffer in silence.

The Stroke No One Saw Coming

Anshul was living the demanding life of a political journalist in India long hours, intense deadlines, and relentless pressure from his news channel manager. The stress was so extreme that even when he was hospitalized for hypertension in 2023, his manager told him to bring his laptop to the hospital and work from his bed.

“Life of a journalist in India is very stressful,” Anshul explains. “It looks good from the outside, but not good from the inside.”

That unmanaged hypertension, blood pressure exceeding 180/86 despite medication, was a ticking time bomb. On February 27, 2025, while working out at the gym, Anshul felt a sensation behind his brain, followed by severe dizziness. Within moments, he collapsed.

Because stroke awareness in India is remarkably low, no one at the gym, including Anshul himself, recognized what was happening. He thought it was a heart attack. Even when a friend drove him home and his father rushed him to a chemist, they were given electrolytes for what they assumed was low blood pressure.

It wasn’t until hours later, when his sister noticed he was having seizures, that the family finally took him to the hospital for a CT scan. The results were devastating: a brain hemorrhage. One junior doctor even said within Anshul’s earshot, “He’s going to die soon.”

The Loss That No One Talks About

After emergency angiography and coiling to stop the bleeding, Anshul survived. But survival came with challenges that went far beyond the left-sided paresis that left him unable to walk or use his dominant hand.

“I lost my manhood at that time,” Anshul shares, his voice steady but vulnerable. “I’m sharing this for the first time.”

Erectile Dysfunction After Stroke: The Silent Struggle

For approximately one month after his stroke, Anshul experienced complete erectile dysfunction. As a 27-year-old single man, the psychological impact was crushing.

“I used to think, what will happen in the future? Nobody will marry me. Nobody will accept me,” he recalls. “I was thinking I was not a man now.”

The shame was so profound that he couldn’t share this with his family or doctors. In Indian culture, discussing sexual dysfunction carries immense stigma; people judge, people assume you’re “less of a man.”

But what Anshul eventually discovered through his own online research was that erectile dysfunction after stroke is a common neurological symptom, not a permanent condition. As his brain healed and his testosterone levels recovered, his erectile function gradually returned over the course of several weeks.

“I want people to know about this. This is not a shame thing. If something like this can happen, people need to accept it. This is happening to them too.” — Anshul Bhadwaj

Bowel Control After Stroke: The Reality of Lost Dignity

Perhaps even more challenging than the erectile dysfunction was the complete loss of bowel and bladder control. For the entire time Anshul was hospitalized for 35 days, he was unable to control when or where he would urinate or defecate.

“I used to pee in the hospital bed only,” he explains. “I was wearing diapers. I would vomit everywhere. I couldn’t control anything.”

What made this experience even more traumatic was the response from some of the hospital nursing staff. Rather than showing compassion for a neurological symptom, some nurses expressed frustration and even mocked him.

“They used to ask me, ‘Why don’t you tell us to take you to the washroom? Why are you doing this in the bed? You’re wasting our time,'” Anshul recalls. “I used to tell them, ‘I can’t control it. I don’t know why I’m doing this. I want to control it, but I can’t.'”

This lack of understanding, even among medical professionals, highlights how little awareness exists around the full spectrum of stroke symptoms, particularly those that affect intimate bodily functions.

The good news: Like his erectile function, Anshul’s bowel and bladder control gradually improved after returning home and beginning physiotherapy. Within a month of leaving the hospital, he no longer needed diapers and could independently use the bathroom.

The Psychological Recovery: From Hiding to Healing

The physical challenges were only part of Anshul’s journey. The psychological impact of losing these fundamental aspects of bodily autonomy sent him into a dark period of shame and fear.

When he first started attending physiotherapy sessions, he would wear a traditional Sikh head covering and a face mask, not for COVID protection, but to hide his identity.

“I was scared people at my neighborhood would recognize me,” he explains. “They would see how I was walking and start laughing at me. I didn’t want to face people.”

The breakthrough came when Anshul began working with a mental health therapist who helped him confront his fears directly.

“She told me, ‘These are your fears. This is not reality. Stop wearing this mask. Don’t come again wearing this mask in front of me,'” Anshul remembers.

That single month of therapy was transformative. It helped him reclaim his dignity and realize that his worth as a person and as a man wasn’t defined by his temporary physical limitations.

What Healthcare Providers Need to Know

Anshul’s story reveals critical gaps in stroke care, particularly around:

Patient education: Survivors need to be told that erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and other intimate symptoms are common neurological effects, not personal failures
Nursing sensitivity: Medical staff require better training on the neurological basis of bowel/bladder dysfunction after brain injury
Mental health integration: Psychological support should be standard protocol, not an afterthought
Cultural competency: In cultures where discussing sexual health is taboo, providers must create safe spaces for these conversations

The Path Forward: Recovery and Advocacy

Today, six months post-stroke, Anshul continues to work on his left-hand motor skills and is waiting for medical clearance to return to the gym. His blood pressure, while improved, still requires monitoring.

But something more powerful has emerged from his trauma: a mission.

“I want to spread stroke awareness in my country to every household,” Anshul declares. “I want to have a stroke awareness series on my news channel. In India, awareness is very low. People don’t even know what stroke is.”

His willingness to discuss erectile dysfunction and bowel control openly, topics that carry immense shame in his culture, is already breaking down barriers and helping other survivors realize they’re not alone.

For Newly Diagnosed Stroke Survivors

Anshul’s message to anyone facing similar challenges is clear and hopeful:

“Don’t lose hope. Everything will get back. If you’re not able to walk right now, you will walk. I’m walking. I’m talking properly. Everything will get better with time. Don’t fear anything. Nothing is permanent in this world.”

He’s right. Just as seasons change, so too do the challenges of stroke recovery. What feels impossible today, whether it’s walking, regaining sexual function, or controlling your bowels, can improve dramatically with time, proper treatment, and compassionate support.

If you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction after stroke, bowel control issues, or any other symptom that leaves you feeling ashamed: you are not alone, you are not less than, and there is hope.

Take the Next Step in Your Recovery

Read Bill’s Book: Learn how stroke can become an unexpected catalyst for growth → recoveryafterstroke.com/book

Join the Recovery After Stroke Community: Get access to exclusive recovery strategies, connect with fellow survivors, and participate in live Q&A sessions → patreon.com/recoveryafterstroke

Subscribe to the Podcast: Never miss another story of hope and transformation from stroke survivors around the world.

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This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your health or recovery plan.

Anshul Bhadwaj: Breaking the Silence on Sexual Health and Dignity After Stroke

At 27, Anshul lost more than movement after his stroke. His brave truth about erectile dysfunction & dignity is changing stroke conversations.

Anshul’s Instagram
Support The Recovery After Stroke Podcast on Patreon

Highlights:

00:00 Introduction and Acknowledgments
01:44 Anshul’s Life Before the Stroke
04:24 The Day of the Stroke
08:31 Seeking Medical Help
18:47 Recovery and Rehabilitation
23:10 Impact on Personal Life and Relationships
29:40 Erectile Dysfunction and Bowel Control Issues
36:32 Positive Changes and Future Goals
40:52 Anshul Bhardwaj: From Fitness Icon to Fighting Spirit
48:57 Spreading Stroke Awareness Across India

Transcript:

Introduction and Acknowledgments

Erectile Dysfunction After Stroke
Bill Gasiamis 0:00
Hi everyone, and welcome back. And before we dive into today’s powerful conversation, I want to take a moment to thank some incredible people who make this podcast possible a heart valve. Thank you to everyone who’s been leaving comments on YouTube, your stories, questions and encouragement. Mean the world to me and to other survivors who read them to those leaving reviews on Spotify and Apple podcasts, thank you for helping more people discover these conversations.

Bill Gasiamis 0:27
And to everyone who’s purchased my book The Unexpected Way That A Stroke Became The Best Thing That Happened. Thank you for trusting me to be a part of your recovery journey. And finally, thank you to those of you who watch the ads instead of skipping them. It might seem small, but it genuinely helps keep this podcast going. This episode is brought to you by Banksia Tech, proud distributors of the Hanson Rehab glove by Syrebo, designed to help stroke survivors improve hand function at home, whether you’re early in recovery or years into your journey.

Bill Gasiamis 0:59
Now, today’s conversation is unlike any we’ve had before. I’m joined by Anshul Bhardwaj, a 27-year-old journalist from India who survived a hemorrhagic stroke earlier this year. What makes this episode so powerful is Angel’s courage to discuss something most stroke survivors won’t talk about, the loss of erectile function, bowel and bladder control and the profound shame that came with it.

Bill Gasiamis 1:24
This conversation is raw. It’s vulnerable, and it’s incredibly important, if you or someone you love is struggling with these hidden challenges of stroke recovery, please know you’re not alone. Let’s get into it. Anshul Bhardwaj, welcome to the podcast.

Anshul Bhardwaj 1:39
Thank you, sir. I’m big fan of yours. It’s a big pleasure of mine to come into your podcast.

Anshul’s Life Before the Stroke

Bill Gasiamis 1:44
Tell me a bit about what life was like for you before your stroke.

Anshul Bhardwaj 1:49
Actually, live for my struggle, very hectic. I’m a journalist from India, so I used to work with a new news channel, so it was more of a hectic schedule, going to the office, coming back to home, stressful lifestyle. I’m telling you this again, life of a journalist India is very stressful. It’s very stressful. It looked good from outside, but not good from inside. Life. Journalists in India is very stressful. Job, very hectic.

Bill Gasiamis 2:17
Is that because you have to meet deadlines and you’re working a lot of hours.

Anshul Bhardwaj 2:23
Yeah, we have to meet the requirement required, require, requirements of the news channel, of the chairman of the news channel. We have to meet the requirements of the news channel chairman.

Bill Gasiamis 2:33
And what was your specific task at the news channel? What did you collect news information for? What was the purpose?

Anshul Bhardwaj 2:41
So, actually, Sir, I used to work on political weight. So, you know, I told you before, also, I used to write News Channel, News Headlines, news updates, which you see on live TV.

Bill Gasiamis 2:54
At the bottom of the screen. You see information coming at the bottom of the screen. Okay, so you used to collect that information?

Anshul Bhardwaj 3:02
No, we don’t use to collect the information. The information used to come to us. We have to write in an hour of on forms, model letter, 60 characters, 60 to 70 characters. Yeah, there’s a limitation.

Bill Gasiamis 3:16
I see. And How long had you been doing that job for you?

Anshul Bhardwaj 3:20
So, I started in November 16, 222, I was working there for around right now, if, if we calculate it, it’s been three years. I have completed my three years with the company. So before my stroke, I completed around the two high two years with the company.

Bill Gasiamis 3:37
Do you have to go to university to get qualifications to become a journalist.

Anshul Bhardwaj 3:42
Yes, sir, I have, I have done my poor graduation mass communication.

Bill Gasiamis 3:46
And tell me about the day of the stroke. How long ago was that? And how old were you?

Anshul Bhardwaj 3:52
So, I had my stroke in Feb. 27, 2025 this year only. I’m 27 years old, quite young for this job. So, so it was, it was normally hectic schedule for me. Schedule day for me. I was not happy with the work. While, you know, I told you, my manager used to very pressurize me for the work. So it’s a hectic job. Life of a journalist in India, very hectic, very stressful job. So, I was in the office.

The Day of the Stroke

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Stroke Recovery
Anshul Bhardwaj 4:24
I was not happy with I was talking too much. I remember at pm in the evening, so I were telling her that I will skip the gym today. I will not go to the gym. I don’t want to go to the gym today. I go back home, come back home. So, while coming back from the office to the home while driving, I made up a man, let’s not skip the gym. Today I go to the gym. So that time, I decided I go to the gym at 8pm only.

Bill Gasiamis 4:48
And then you were at the gym doing some routine exercise, and then you had a stroke.

Anshul Bhardwaj 4:54
Yeah, I had a shock during the gym only.

Bill Gasiamis 4:56
What did you notice? What happened to your body?

Anshul Bhardwaj 5:00
So I had, I sense a sensation behind this area of my brain. So everything, I experienced dizziness.

Bill Gasiamis 5:10
And did that make you feel like you were falling over? Did you feel unwell other than the dizziness?

Anshul Bhardwaj 5:16
Yeah, I was not feeling well. Everything was moving in front of me, the walls and all. I thought that I was having a heart attack, because, at that time, due to low awareness of stroke in India, so I didn’t know what stroke was before my stroke. No, not. No one in the gym even knew. So I just fell. I fell in the ground. So I actually knew I’m going to get something I would think of a heart attack or cardio.

Bill Gasiamis 5:43
Did somebody call for help? Was there an ambulance that arrived? How did you get help?

Anshul Bhardwaj 5:47
So, when I walk, when I got conscious, so I saw myself lying on the floor. So everybody was scared looking at me. You know, it’s a very scary moment. Everyone surrounding me, while looking in very me, looking to me on a in a very different way. What has happened to him? Why is fall off? So I vomited in that area, only people. Your people were very good at the time. They were helping me to they knew something bad had happened to me, so they were helping me. Let us drop to your hot, to your home. So they were asking me. They were gave me water to drink.

Bill Gasiamis 6:22
And then did they take you home? Or what happened? Did you go to hospital?

Anshul Bhardwaj 6:25
Yeah, there was one guy who who took me to the home. He told me that you’re, you are not well, because my face were drooping from left side. So he knew I was getting seizure also. So he knew something is wrong with him. Actually, anybody who does not know about shock will get to know something is going wrong with some this guy, Caesar, is something very different thing.

Anshul Bhardwaj 6:47
So, he told me, I will drop you to the home. Let’s go home. I’ll drop you. No, don’t worry. I’ll have I must thank him. He got me to the home. So when I came back home, so, I was thinking. I was just thinking what had happened to me, because I didn’t know that time was, stroke was.

Bill Gasiamis 7:06
And then was there somebody home with you? Did you have family at home, or were you home alone?

Anshul Bhardwaj 7:11
Yes. So I used to live with my father. When I came back home, he was not at home. So I just called my sister. I have my elder sister, so I called her, something is going wrong with me. I’m having a very acute headache, a thundercrack headache, so I’m not able to control it. So I don’t know what to do. I just need a sleeve for 1520, minutes. You just came back, come back to home. Just see me.

Anshul Bhardwaj 7:36
And nothing is wrong and nothing is right with me right now. I can die soon, I told her. So I was very scared. Actually, I didn’t know what was happening to me. I thought I was getting a heart attack. So I told her, something is going going wrong with me. I soon may get a heart attack.

Bill Gasiamis 7:52
But the headache, you had a very big headache, very it was a thunderclap headache, yeah. And then at some point they realized that it was more serious than a headache, and you went to hospital. How did you get to the hospital?

Anshul Bhardwaj 8:06
So, when I came back home, when I called my sister, she called my father, something is wrong with your son, just go back and see and he just came rushing to the home. And then he saw me. He I was vomiting all over the place, all over the place. At my home, I was in my bed. I was just vomiting everywhere, wherever I’m getting a space, I’m vomiting there.

Seeking Medical Help

Anshul Bhardwaj 8:31
So, he didn’t knew about the stroke. My father also didn’t knew about stroke. He just went back. He can he he went to the chemist. He told my son is vomiting everywhere after working out. So the camera thought, it was due to low blood pressure. He gave electrolyte to my father.

Bill Gasiamis 8:49
So is the chemist, the first place where you might have gone to get some support for some help.

Anshul Bhardwaj 8:56
My father went there and he gave electrolyte drink to my father actually came. Didn’t knew, my father want elder bill to explain this to my chemist, what are happening to me? He just say, my father, my son, is unconscious. He’s vomiting everywhere. So my chemist thought that he might be suffering for low blood pressure. Actually came. Didn’t you know? He didn’t saw me. So, he gave electrolyte to my father. He He told him that give him, he will be better.

Bill Gasiamis 9:26
And then you weren’t better.

Anshul Bhardwaj 9:28
No, even after doing the electrolyte, I was just vomiting everywhere. Just after half an hour, my sister arrived, so rushing, and one thing I want to thank my sister for this one, she noticed, she noticed that I was having a Caesar. Nothing is something is wrong with him going on right now.

Bill Gasiamis 9:48
And then at some stage, who made the decision to get you to a hospital? Did you go to a hospital?

Anshul Bhardwaj 9:54
So, it was around pm, at night time. So it. 8pm I had a stroke, so I went to the hospital at 12pm because I came to know something going wrong with me. You must experience yourself only why I’m doing this, why I’m omitting my body is not in mind control. You know you’re getting seizures. You are doing different type of things. You are your hand are moving yourself so you’re not able to control it.

Anshul Bhardwaj 10:23
So my sister told me, You’re you are not looking good. Let’s go to the doctor. So I was new from inside, something is going wrong with me that I decided, no, let’s go to the doctor. So I told you before, also, I was thinking of heart attack. So I thought, I will get the heart attack the CT scan. Then they took me to hold a CT scan.

Bill Gasiamis 10:42
The CT scan revealed that there was a bleed on your brain.

Anshul Bhardwaj 10:47
So, when they were two doctors who were treating me at that time. I was unconscious during the CT scan. I don’t know how I got consciousness, so I just they took my CT scan. That took my report. They saw my report. There was one junior doctor who was who got frightened looking at my report. He said, sir. He told his senior that, sir, he is going to die soon. He is getting so much bleeding, his nerve is ruptured. He will die soon. I told you also I was aware that time.

Anshul Bhardwaj 11:19
I hope I just heard him saying this, he’s going to die soon. I was so frightened that time, I was like, I’m going to die soon. I was just praying to God. God, give me just one more chance to live. Wow, that’s be confronting. Yeah, I was just praying to God. Just give me one more chance to leave. I will live my life to the fuller this time, give me one more chance. I don’t want to die today.

Bill Gasiamis 11:44
We’ll get back to more of Angel’s remarkable story in just a moment, including how he navigated the loss of bowel control and erectile function and the insensitive treatment he faced from hospital staff. But first, I want to tell you about Banksia tech, the proud distributor of the Hanson rehab glove by cerebo. This isn’t just another rehab device. It’s specially designed to help stroke survivors regain hand function through mirror therapy and assisted movement.

Bill Gasiamis 12:12
Whether you’re struggling with grip strength, finger mobility or hand coordination like angels is with his left hand, the glove works with you at your own pace in the comfort of your own home. You can learn more at their website. I’ll include the link in the show notes. Now back to Angel’s story, because what happens next reveals just how little Stroke Awareness exists, even among medical professionals. Yeah, fair enough. And then what happened? Did you go into surgery? How did they resolve the brain hemorrhage?

Anshul Bhardwaj 12:47
So, they told me, We don’t have this. The hospital we have came to is not a neuro special hospital. You need to go to a special hospital. So they referred my family. They told my family you had, your son had only 50% chances of survival. You just rush him to the big hospital as soon as possible.

Bill Gasiamis 13:09
So was your family’s responsibility to get you there.

Anshul Bhardwaj 13:13
So, yeah, they went. They took me from to them, from the ambulance to a neuro special Hospital in Delhi, only by car, near by ambulance.

Bill Gasiamis 13:22
Okay, so the ambulance took you, it was, yeah, yeah, under medical supervision, yeah, yeah. And then, how did they treat your brain hemorrhage? Did they? Did you need brain surgery? How did it work?

Anshul Bhardwaj 13:36
When I went to the neuroscience Hospital in Delhi, sir hospital, so they give two choices to my family. One is to they said me, they told my family, I do to go for open brain surgery. And second is safe surgery and geography. So they told my family, if you go for open brain surgery, the one thing that will happen will he can go to coma. His condition is very critical. He may go to coma and he can die also. The better option is to go for angiography, coiling, coiling. I had my coil I have my coiling beside this area.

Bill Gasiamis 14:14
So you had an angio gram, and then they used that method to put a coil in and coiling blood vessel from bleeding.

Anshul Bhardwaj 14:23
Yeah.

Bill Gasiamis 14:24
Wow. So how long did you spend in hospital?

Anshul Bhardwaj 14:28
Around 35 days.

Bill Gasiamis 14:31
Were you able to feel better as soon as the procedure was done? Or did you have some deficits that you had to deal with?

Anshul Bhardwaj 14:39
So, yeah, actually, I suffer from left-sided paresis. My left side got affected.

Bill Gasiamis 14:44
Left side paresis. What is that?

Anshul Bhardwaj 14:46
Paresis, P A R E S I S.

Bill Gasiamis 14:49
Yeah. What does that mean? What does it how do you feel? What does that do to you?

Anshul Bhardwaj 14:54
I was not able to walk. I was not able to move my left part of the body, left leg. I was not able. Were to walk, I was not able to drink the cup of coffee, tea like this. I’m still suffering from it. I’m not able to write from my left hand. I’m a left handy.

Bill Gasiamis 15:10
So you’ve been impacted on your left side. And yeah, is that better now?

Anshul Bhardwaj 15:15
Right now, walking is better, much better. I went to a physiotherapy, so work is much better right now. I can walk, but still writing is bit tough.

Bill Gasiamis 15:26
What about using a computer? Typing on a computer does that okay?

Anshul Bhardwaj 15:30
The speed is not okay. The speed is not good. I used to do it for my right hand, , right now, talking to you, I log in for my right hand only. Left hand, the gripping motor skills are not good.

Bill Gasiamis 15:44
So what’s the medical support like for somebody who’s having a stroke in India? Do you get all the support that you need when you’re in the hospital and then in rehabilitation?

Anshul Bhardwaj 15:54
So yeah, the hospital, I’m really thankful to them. They are the one who saved my life, so they were always checking on me. All the doctor always checking on me. So it was like, I, had physiotherapy in the hospital. Also the hospital was the reason of my stroke were hypertension.

Bill Gasiamis 16:12
So you had undiagnosed hypertension. Yeah, wow. And you’re, you’re 28 years old. You have hypertension? 2727 Yeah, yeah. And did you have any idea that you had hypertension?

Anshul Bhardwaj 16:29
Yes, I had. So, in 2000 20s, yes, in 2023 I had a nose bleeding in former this area while working in the office only so due to pressure and all. So, I went to the medical room of my office. So they checked my blood pressure very high. One more than 180 $6 more than one eight. That is very high.

Bill Gasiamis 16:55
Why do you think you had such high blood pressure? Was it due to the work, or is it just some kind of a genetic thing that you have?

Anshul Bhardwaj 17:03
I think, due to the work because the work pressure is much more in the media industry, news industry.

Bill Gasiamis 17:09
So when you discovered that you had high blood pressure, did they put you on blood pressure medication or or not?

Anshul Bhardwaj 17:17
So yes, I was on medication. I want to share one, one of the biggest thing with you, when the this thing happened with me when I was 2023 I’m talking about 2023 when I had my nose bleeding, so I was admitted in the ICU due to hypertension. So, I took a leave from the office, so I told my manager that I won’t be able to come today, and he told me, why don’t you work from the hospital only? Like a work from home.

Anshul Bhardwaj 17:50
You are very strong guy. He told me. He told me, tell your father to take the laptop to the hospital and you start working. We have very less people in the team can’t We can’t afford you taking a leave.

Bill Gasiamis 18:07
Wow, even if you’re very sick and you’re in hospital, he expected you to work. And did you do that? Did you work from hospital?

Anshul Bhardwaj 18:14
No. I just called it him, and it’s not possible. I reported to my all these things.

Bill Gasiamis 18:21
That’s a good move. Wow. Okay, so I understand now what you say about the pressure at work was very high, very high. Yeah, understand. So when you experience the stroke and you realized you’re in hospital and need to coil your brain, what is it like to be so young and to experience a life-threatening situation like that. How did it make you feel about what was happening?

Erectile Dysfunction After Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation

Anshul Bhardwaj 18:47
It was very bad phase of my life, one of the worst phase you are young, just few days where you can drive motorcycle, you can drive car, but after few days your left side is not working. It’s a very big thing for a young guy, he’s seeing himself, he’s not able to feed himself, he’s not able to go to the washroom by himself. So it’s a very live, I think it affected me a lot. Just after a few days only, my manager removed me from all the WhatsApp groups.

Bill Gasiamis 19:21
So what about mental mental health? Like, did you start to notice that you were a little bit unwell, as far as your mental health was concerned? Were you worried? Were you concerned about what life is going to look like? What all yeah means for you?

Anshul Bhardwaj 19:37
Actually, I was very concerned. I was like, I don’t know how, like, I used to ask everyone in the hospital my doctors, when will life become normal for me? They told me, took some take some time. Everything will get your hand will start moving. You will start moving again. Everything will get normal. Nothing is permanent in this world. The doctor used to tell me, God is kind on you. It go alive, embrace their life.

Bill Gasiamis 20:02
Was that comforting to hear that? Did it help?

Anshul Bhardwaj 20:06
Yeah, this helped. This boosted me a lot.

Bill Gasiamis 20:08
Some positive feedback from your doctor, yeah. And did you accept what happened to you? Is it something that you understood that this is how things are now, and I have to tackle it. I have to move forward. Have to find a way through this.

Anshul Bhardwaj 20:26
Yeah, acceptance were not very good for me. I will never accept that I had a stroke. So I was not able to accept this reality that my left side is not working anymore. So I was like fear, fear of facing people. I was suffering from fear of facing people, so I was thinking that when things will get sad again, normal.

Bill Gasiamis 20:48
Yeah, fear of facing people, because they might judge you. Why?

Anshul Bhardwaj 20:53
The awareness of shock in India is very less so people judge you. You’re walking in a very different way, like this, like this, you’re not able to work properly, so they used to make fun of you like this. Fun of you why he’s working funny off your walk, walk style.

Bill Gasiamis 21:12
Wondering why that’s happened to you. They don’t understand about stroke.

Anshul Bhardwaj 21:16
Why he’s moving like this, holding his father’s hand to why this young guy who was so fit before, why he’s saying his father’s support to move to work, why he’s so dependent on his father now.

Bill Gasiamis 21:30
Do you think they’re asking out of curiosity more, or is it that they’re being silly about?

Anshul Bhardwaj 21:37
Actually curiosity because they’d want to know? Awareness is very low in my country, so they don’t know what stroke that’s why they are more more into like, why is this happening with him? When I went to the physiotherapy center, people used to ask me, What happened to you, what happened to you, son, what happened to you? My son, stroke used to happen with older people. So there were people of 80 years old. They used to ask me, What happened to you? Do you used to think a lot.

Anshul Bhardwaj 22:09
So I used to say, no, no, life. I used to explain my story to them the way I’m talking to you. So I used to say them, no, I had a strong due to hypertension. So they used to see, yeah, chill your life. Take your chill your life. Why you take so much pressure? I say, No, I don’t take pressure. I want to recover. I want to go back to my old life.

Bill Gasiamis 22:30
But you want to recover. You want to go back to your old life, but not your work. What about your work? Do you want to go back to your work?

Anshul Bhardwaj 22:38
So, just recently August, my doctor told me, You should go back to the work, start work from home. You can’t you can’t travel. My office is around 40 kilometers away from my home. So he told me, driving is very tough for you. You will get stressed out very easily. Go try for work from home. Then email my company, my manager about this. I want to work for home. They denied my request.

Bill Gasiamis 23:06
So you won’t be going back to the journalist job.

Impact on Personal Life and Relationships

Anshul Bhardwaj 23:10
I want to go back to the job, but they are denying my request to work for Home. I don’t know when I will be fully fit to go back to the work. I see, I’m waiting for that moment.

Bill Gasiamis 23:22
I see so it’s very early days, though, your stroke wasn’t that long ago. It was still only a few months ago. And strokes takes some time to heal, yeah, yeah, and take some time to heal and recover.

Anshul Bhardwaj 23:35
Yeah. I just want to share one thing with you. I just had a Zoom meeting with one of the senior and most member of my organization. They don’t know my stroke. So he the way we are talking. He was talking to me. He say, Hey, you look very fine. Why you are saying you can’t come to the office? Just they are judging with whom I look say they You are looking very fine. You are looking very nice. You are looking very nice. You are so happy, looking very happy. Why don’t you come to the office?

Anshul Bhardwaj 24:03
Because awareness very low. They’re not able to understand what shock is. Mentally taking so much. We can’t travel 40 kilometers, a big thing. You can you can see 80 kilometers a day. It’s a very tough job for a shock survivor.

Bill Gasiamis 24:17
That’s huge, especially if your left side is not working properly.

Anshul Bhardwaj 24:22
So I told him that. I told my senior that I’m not normal like you. I’m a stroke survivor, I’m not a normal person. You can’t compare my journey to yours.

Bill Gasiamis 24:36
And just because you look a certain way doesn’t mean yeah, that everything is fine.

Anshul Bhardwaj 24:41
Yeah, this is the main aspect, just I’m talking right now. I’m looking good, so I’m looking normal. I didn’t mean I’m normal from inside too.

Bill Gasiamis 24:50
And if he saw you in person, he would notice your deficits. Your left side isn’t, yeah, operating correctly, yeah. But he saw you from zoom. And from zoom, everything looks fine.

Anshul Bhardwaj 25:02
Yeah, they look me. From zoom, they just assume that you are fine. So there’s You look fine. You look fine. Why don’t Why can’t you come to the office?

Bill Gasiamis 25:13
I understand. So when you go home after hospital and you’re at home. Are you being cared for at home by your family? How do you get support when you’re at home after hospital?

Anshul Bhardwaj 25:28
So when I came back to the home, mom to the from the hospital, I were getting a good care for my father. My father used to treat me, my meals, everything.

Bill Gasiamis 25:39
And is your father somebody who works, or is he not working at the moment.

Anshul Bhardwaj 25:43
Actually, he’s a retired person, government official.

Bill Gasiamis 25:46
Okay, so he has time to be able to support you.

Anshul Bhardwaj 25:50
Right now I’m leaving his horn. He’s paid all only.

Bill Gasiamis 25:52
So he still has some kind of payments.

Anshul Bhardwaj 25:56
He’s paying. He’s paying all my bills, for all my medicines bills and all because I’m not getting pay for my organization. So they are. He’s the only one who’s paying me all my bills.

Bill Gasiamis 26:08
And is it expensive to be a stroke survivor in India?

Anshul Bhardwaj 26:12
Yeah, very expensive. The cost of medicines is very high, maybe around $100 a month.

Bill Gasiamis 26:19
So you’re at home. You’re being looked after. Your dad is helping you out. So that’s really positive. That’s great support. Who else is helping you get through this? How else are you managing to find a way through to overcome all the challenges that this is creating?

Anshul Bhardwaj 26:35
I’m just waiting to get back my talk to my doctor. Recently, I had my appointment with my doctor. He told me, wait. Things will take time. Just wait to get back to your old fellow again. Wait two, three months more. It’s been only six months. You are expecting more from six months. Wait for one year. Next year you will complete one year. Then let’s see what we have.

Bill Gasiamis 26:57
I see and are you going back to the gym? Have you been able to go back to the gym and rehabilitate or do anything like that?

Anshul Bhardwaj 27:05
No, I can’t work out because left side is not working. So doctor has told me, No, don’t go to the gym again. We only go to the gym when I will give you, give you a clean sheet.

Bill Gasiamis 27:15
When they give you. What was that?

Anshul Bhardwaj 27:17
When he will give me the clean sheet.

Bill Gasiamis 27:21
Okay, so nobody has authorized anything like that for you yet.

Anshul Bhardwaj 27:25
No, he will do the MRI of my brain. Then I only will decide.

Bill Gasiamis 27:31
I see, make sure everything has settled down and the bleeding is not happening and the coil is in a good position, etc. Yeah, yeah. Has the hypertension settled down, or is it still high blood still there?

Anshul Bhardwaj 27:45
When I went recently, my sister Ollie, was 156 even after medication.

Bill Gasiamis 27:51
Even after, I understand. Was there a turning point when you said, I’m really going to fight for my recovery? Did you find yourself in that situation where you decided that you’re going to make sure that you get better.

Anshul Bhardwaj 28:06
When I understood that in India, nobody understand your pain, I made a decision. I will raise my voice through social media. I will do anything to raise shock awareness in India. I need just government support, support of the government. And government, I can do much big things.

Bill Gasiamis 28:25
Yeah, the government. Do they support Stroke Awareness programs?

Anshul Bhardwaj 28:31
I don’t know. I don’t know. In India, we have any Stroke Awareness Program also, I don’t think we have.

Bill Gasiamis 28:39
See in Australia, we have the Stroke Foundation helps to raise awareness about stroke. There isn’t a foundation like that in India.

Anshul Bhardwaj 28:48
No.

Bill Gasiamis 28:48
Okay. So do you know anyone else who had a stroke?

Anshul Bhardwaj 28:55
Have you met other people? Yeah, when you used to go to physiotherapy, I met many people there. I connected with them. We made a WhatsApp group of art stroke survivors.

Bill Gasiamis 29:06
So together, you guys are creating something new.

Anshul Bhardwaj 29:09
We used to talk each other pain. We used to talk about each other pain only we can understand then you Yeah, older people than me, some are in 50s, and some are in six.

Bill Gasiamis 29:22
So in your rehabilitation, you’re the youngest person there in that rehabilitation hospital. Yeah, yeah, I understand. So what did early recovery look like for you? How hard was it for you? Are you back on very high are you able to be independent and go to the bathroom on your own?

Erectile Dysfunction After Stroke and Bowel Control Issues

Anshul Bhardwaj 29:40
So, in the early stage of my life, for one of the threatening moment for me, I lost my manhood. At that time.

Bill Gasiamis 29:47
You felt like you were less of a man.

Anshul Bhardwaj 29:50
Yeah, because I lost my erections, I’m saying this for the first time, yeah, I was in India. It’s like, it’s very tough to share these things with a. Other people. People judge you on this basis. So I was not able to share with my family. I didn’t share with anyone. I’m sharing this with you for the first time. So I was not having any movement. In Boyle, we have a election in the morning. I lost all my election for around one month.

Bill Gasiamis 30:19
Are you think, and is that something that you were able to receive some support with from your doctors or anybody like that?

Anshul Bhardwaj 30:26
No, I was not able to share it with my anyone, because people judge you. People say you’re less of a man. You’re not man. They judge you on this basis. You can’t share this with anyone.

Bill Gasiamis 30:40
It’s very difficult, I know, as a man, to be able to admit that it’s difficult, and also to have a conversation with other people. Yeah, the reality is, is that it is something sexuality, and the way I feel after stroke in in that way does change. It’s, you know, for some women, it’s completely different. For some men, it’s completely different. Yeah, and you felt that you were going to be judged by other people that had that conversation, so you haven’t shared that with them, but you, you thought it’s a good idea to share it on the podcast that goes all around the world.

Anshul Bhardwaj 31:16
Yeah, I want people to know about this. I don’t, I want to spread awareness, to know people accept this. If something can happen, to accept this thing, this is not a shame thing. People will get, I think, through this, people will get to know, yeah, this is happening with them, okay, something like this. Who those who don’t know about shock, they will get to they will get to know about this thing. Shock is a tough thing. It’s not an easy thing.

Bill Gasiamis 31:42
Yeah, it’s an it’s part of the injury. What you’re experiencing, you can’t get an erection. That’s part of your injury that happened inside your brain. It’s got nothing to do with you or anything else. It’s it’s not something that you created. It’s just something that’s happened as a result of the brain bleeding.

Anshul Bhardwaj 31:59
So, I used to search on net also, so I just didn’t I got many people stories and read it, people talking about they had some erection issue also.

Bill Gasiamis 32:11
After stroke, or just?

Anshul Bhardwaj 32:15
After stroke. So then I was able to connect. Is rare, because at that time, I was very shattered, because I’m not married, I’m single. Right now, I was thinking, when, what will happen the future? Nobody will marry, nobody will accept me.

Bill Gasiamis 32:29
Okay, so now you’re thinking that as well.

Anshul Bhardwaj 32:33
I was in a bit of mental pressure after this, knowing this, because when I was in hospital, I used to feel very bad. I used to feel what has happened to me, I’m not a man. Now, what will happen to me in the future? Who will marry me? Nobody will going to marry me. Nobody will accept this type of man.

Bill Gasiamis 32:50
Yeah. Do you feel better about that now, now that you’ve had the opportunity to discover that other people have been through this, do you know that there’s a path forward that you can also rehabilitate that part of your life.

Anshul Bhardwaj 33:05
Yes, I can say that this improve with time. The problem which I was suffering from, improves and improved in one month. Started improving I was thinking I was looking at improvement in just one month only. And the hospital, there was no movement, no erection control. I used to feel very bad. I lost my urinal and bowel controls.

Bill Gasiamis 33:27
As well, so you also weren’t able to hold on to your bells.

Anshul Bhardwaj 33:31
Yeah, I was used to doing the hospital bed only, okay, so I used to be on the hospital experience and to go through that. Yeah, even the nurses used to make fun of me at that time. They were not able. I don’t know why they were not able to understand it. I used to tell me, I’m not able to hold my pee. I used to pee on the hospital bed only. They used to fund me. Why you pee so much? You can’t control your pee?

Anshul Bhardwaj 33:58
They were not able to get me. I don’t know there was a communication issue. They didn’t know about this, so you should tell her that I’m not able to control. I don’t know why I’m doing this. I want to control. I’m not able to control. I can’t do anything.

Bill Gasiamis 34:11
The nurses are not trained to understand what happens with people who have a stroke.

Anshul Bhardwaj 34:16
I don’t know about this, but this is the reality that happened with.

Bill Gasiamis 34:20
Okay, so they’re making life even harder. It’s hard already. Yeah, hospital, you’re recovering from a stroke, you have all these challenges, and then these people do not understand that you are not being a terrible patient. You are just this is one of the symptoms of what happened to you.

Anshul Bhardwaj 34:37
Yeah, actually, when the nursery used to change my diaper around three to four times a day because they used to get frustrated about this. They used to tell me, why are you? Why don’t you tell us to get yourself to the washroom, get someone to take you to the washroom, to pee.

Anshul Bhardwaj 34:58
So why don’t you pee? In the bottle instead of doing hair in the bed you’re doing in. This is taking so much they used to waste our time on the bed, so we used to change your diet, but feel weird to us. So I used to also feel shy because I’m male, they are female, they are we are I’m not able to connect with them. So I used to feel very shy.

Bill Gasiamis 35:21
Yeah, that’s a very difficult situation. And did that continue while you were in hospital the whole time? Did that improve with time?

Anshul Bhardwaj 35:29
But in the hospital, there were no improvement. I got improvement only at home after one month.

Bill Gasiamis 35:36
After one month. So is that because you can hold on to your bowels now and have more time to get to the hospital to the toilet.

Anshul Bhardwaj 35:45
So, I just want to tell you one thing. When I came back to the home, I started my physiotherapy. I think after my body started becoming little bit my this part of my body also started recovering, getting strength, my testosterone level started improving at hospital. It was very low due to that reason, I was not getting any erections at that time.

Bill Gasiamis 36:09
Yeah, and the bathroom situation, how did that change when you were at home? Were you able to hold on to your bells before going to the bathroom at home? Or did you have to wear a diaper at home as well.

Anshul Bhardwaj 36:22
I used to wear diaper at home also.

Bill Gasiamis 36:25
And that has improved. Now it’s not like that.

Anshul Bhardwaj 36:28
Now, no, I don’t wear diapers. Now I can go myself.

Positive Changes and Future Goals

Bill Gasiamis 36:32
So you don’t need any help at the bathroom?

Anshul Bhardwaj 36:35
No, no.

Bill Gasiamis 36:35
Yeah, that’s a positive sign that’s improved. Your testosterone is increasing. Yeah, you’re able to feel a little bit like yourself again. So it’s interesting that there is such a lacking awareness of what stroke can do to a person, especially even in the medical field and the nurses were giving you a hard time. I understand it would be very difficult to clean a diaper of somebody who is an adult when they’re in hospital, but it’s unfortunately, very necessary, and something that needs to happen so you can you can recover.

Bill Gasiamis 37:08
These things need to happen. They need to that’s what the job of a nurse is. Do you feel like the nurses were untrained, or were they just is that a cultural issue? What kind of issue is it? What’s happening there? Why are they so uncomfortable dealing with their patient?

Anshul Bhardwaj 37:24
I can’t say that they were untrained. That was the bad this, that hospital was a I can’t say they were untrained. I don’t know why they knew didn’t understand my thing, my condition. I don’t know why they were very well trained. They know how to throw things. They were frustrated because of me, because I was being in the bed every time. I don’t know why this one had it happened with me.

Anshul Bhardwaj 37:48
It could be this thing that God wants me to come to your fort card and share this thing that that’s why that happened with me. I think so. Yeah, everything is enough.

Bill Gasiamis 38:02
Why not? That’s a good reason. Why, especially if it’s going to help other people by you sharing your story and and making some awareness. Yeah. So what was it that, what was your biggest challenge and test? Do you think so far after the stroke.

Anshul Bhardwaj 38:17
It was accepting myself. I still remember when I went to the physiotherapy I used to wear outside. I used to go outside. I belong to a Punjabi family in India, so we used to keep a Talib at home and patka type of thing. When I used to go outside of Maha I used to cover my mask. I don’t want to face people wear that patka type of thing on my head. Where my Tata you need to seek people, you know, seek, seek people, Sikh people, yes, sikha, yes, sikha, Sikh religion.

Anshul Bhardwaj 38:53
People used to wear something on the turban at the top of their head. I used to do that type of thing so nobody recognizes me and on the because people at my neighborhood know me. They were under they will recognize me. How well this guy is working like this. They will start laughing on me. I was fair speaking, looking at people. I used to get scared a lot, and I used to wear a mask on my face, or nobody recognizes me who is working on the road.

Bill Gasiamis 39:23
And how long did it take you to take that mask off and to go into public? Around one month. What did you decide to do that for? What happened? How did you decide I’m not going to cover my myself and hide.

Anshul Bhardwaj 39:39
I started taking a mental therapy psychologist. I took a therapy from a psychiatrist. I told her everything about me. She told me, these are your fear. This is not a reality. These are your fears. So start working on your fears. Stop wearing this mask. Don’t come again, wearing this mug in front of me.

Bill Gasiamis 39:59
So this particular therapist was very important to help change the way you were thinking about the situation you were in. And did you still see the therapist, the psychotherapist? Or is it a psychologist, or is it a psychiatrist? What? Who did you go and see?

Anshul Bhardwaj 40:15
She’s a mental therapist, psychologist, I guess.

Bill Gasiamis 40:20
Yeah. And do you still see her now?

Anshul Bhardwaj 40:23
Yeah, she is in touch with me. We have each other number. We used to greet her Good morning. I used to get her good morning every day, like this. I’m in touch with her. I used to ask her about her family. What’s going on in your family?

Bill Gasiamis 40:35
Do you see her professionally? Is what I meant, sorry, sir. Do you see her as her patient, or has her client? Do you go back for more therapy sessions?

Anshul Bhardwaj 40:44
No, I just took therapy with her from one for sale, only one month.

Bill Gasiamis 40:49
But there was enough to make you change the way that you were thinking about things.

Anshul Bhardwaj: From Fitness Icon to Fighting Spirit

Anshul Bhardwaj 40:52
Yeah, she helped me a lot to gain my mental stability back.

Bill Gasiamis 40:57
Yeah. Did you find that you found yourself at a really dark place. Was there a rock bottom moment when you felt like. why is this happening to me?

Anshul Bhardwaj 41:07
Yes, sir, I was very fit, very good guy. I was a gym trainer before I became a journalist. I used to be very fit. So, we have an Indian actor in India, a very famous Bollywood actor. His name is Salman Khan. He’s a fitness icon of India. Salman Khan. My friend used to call me Salman Khan before, before my stroke. So, when this happened with me, people used to tell me why. He used to think himself. Someone can that. That’s why he this happened with him. They used to curse me like this.

Bill Gasiamis 41:50
Wow. So people used to call you the name of that person. You didn’t change choose that, but then, because you were happy with people calling you, that you enjoyed being called that name. Other people you were that you had an ego. What did they think you had a why? Why was it a problem that you somebody was calling you the other person’s name?

Anshul Bhardwaj 42:17
No, this was not a problem. I used to feel very happy, because he is a very big actor in India. Very big Bollywood actor.

Bill Gasiamis 42:25
Very famous people thought, but the other people thought that you had a stroke because you thought you were more special, more important. Why did they think?

Anshul Bhardwaj 42:35
They used to tell him on the people on the road to gossip about me, used to him think himself as Salman Khan. Look at him. Now, he can’t walk now. He used to him think himself as a fitness icon. Look at him. Now, what has God given to him?

Bill Gasiamis 42:52
They thought it was negative, that you thought yourself more more important or something.

Anshul Bhardwaj 42:59
It was more of a negative dog.

Bill Gasiamis 43:03
You just had somebody called you that name. You thought it was funny, you thought it was good, and that was it. You weren’t you didn’t have a big ego.

Anshul Bhardwaj 43:12
Yeah, before my stroke, I used to feel very happy when people used to compare with me. Salman Khan, I used to feel very happy that people are calling me and like comparing with a Bollywood icon, it’s a very big thing for me.

Bill Gasiamis 43:27
Yeah, and now they don’t compare you to him anymore.

Anshul Bhardwaj 43:30
Nah, they don’t. I’m very thin now. I’m not a big guy. I’m I lost my weight also.

Bill Gasiamis 43:37
Yeah, and your friends, the ones that were people who you used to spend time with before the stroke. Do you still see all your friends?

Anshul Bhardwaj 43:46
Before my show, I don’t have much friends. I have very limited friends. I used to go out with my family only. I’m a family person. Type of person I see. I used to spend time with my sister or my husband, I see Yeah, like this. So very less friends.

Bill Gasiamis 44:07
Yeah, and the people that you used to know at the gym at work, your colleagues? Do you? Do you keep in touch with any of them?

Anshul Bhardwaj 44:13
Yeah, my colleague used to call me. Then, when are you going to go back to the work? Come back to the work. We are waiting for you. Why don’t you come back? So I used to tell them my story. I had a stroke. They don’t know about stroke symptoms, so they used to tell me, it’s just a stroke, just a stroke. Why can’t you come back? Why are you taking it is taking you too long to come back to the office.

Anshul Bhardwaj 44:36
It’s just a stroke, just a shock. Stroke is just like cough and cold. They used to compare like this, wow. And I’m not able to understand and I’m not able to make them understand that stroke is a big life setting disease.

Bill Gasiamis 44:50
Yeah, it’s difficult when somebody hasn’t gone through it and they haven’t met anyone that’s had a stroke. It’s really hard for them to understand they when there’s no. Awareness, then it becomes your job to make them aware of what a stroke is, how serious it is, and how it’s affecting you. And just because you look fine on the outside doesn’t mean that you’re fine on the inside. Yes, that’s a big thing. So yeah. So looking back now, how have you changed, not just physically, but also emotionally and mentally. How have you changed? How are you different than before?

Anshul Bhardwaj 45:25
So, now I have become more of a positive at that time, I used to work with negative people. I was more negative. One more negative thoughts. Now I’m I’m in a hard home. I’m on a recovery, so I’m with spending time with family more. So I’m more on a positive side. So I think that, yes, I’m no mind. I’m now more positive than before. I used to challenge the movements that I got a one more birth, and my opinion, only few people in the world has a chance second chance in life.

Anshul Bhardwaj 45:58
Very few lucky people get second chance so I used to cherish this moment, this moment. I used to thank God every day I used to enjoy the nature. There was a time I was not able to enjoy the nature. I can see I can just hear the birds chirping. I can’t go and see outside. I can hear the children’s up. I can hear the children’s playing outside. I can see, I can hear the rain falling on the ground. I can’t see. I can enjoy the nature.

Anshul Bhardwaj 46:30
In the beginning of my stroke time, I am just laying on this bed only. I’m just just listening to what’s happening outside. I can’t just see, I can’t just feel the nature. I can see the children’s are playing outside, but the birds are charming, chirping outside.

Bill Gasiamis 46:47
Understand, what have you discovered about yourself? What kind of strengths do you see in yourself that you didn’t know that you had before?

Anshul Bhardwaj 46:56
The strain I have is inner, inner power to face all this thing I have survived six months facing all the negative talks, talks from the other people.

Bill Gasiamis 47:07
It seems like you see your stroke as something that has shaped you in a meaningful way. Yeah, yeah, that’s excellent. So if you could share one lesson from your journey with somebody that’s newly diagnosed. Perhaps they’re newly diagnosed in India. What would it be? What would you say to somebody that has been through what you’ve been through?

Anshul Bhardwaj 47:30
I want to tell him that don’t lose hope. Everything will get back. If you’re not able to walk right now, you will walk. I’m working. I’m working with my I’m also able to talk properly. Everything will get better with time. Don’t fear anything. Nothing is permanent in this world, no weather is permanent. If it’s raining today, sun will rise tomorrow. If today’s monsoon will winters will come.

Anshul Bhardwaj 47:57
Nothing is permanent. I found 27 years old today, I will not remain 27 years old. For my lifetime, I will become 18 or also, nothing is permanent. Yeah, just judge the God, God’s plan. Everything happens for a reason.

Bill Gasiamis 48:10
So what does post stroke growth mean to you? Personally, there seems to have been some growth in your life, even though you’re going through these difficult times. What does that mean to you?

Anshul Bhardwaj 48:23
So, I just want to tell you one thing. Before my show, I was not much connected to my father there. I had a very different I am now much more closer to him, because I have spent six months at home so I can, I have much good relation with him. Now, I used to feel I’m more connected with him now as what I was before.

Bill Gasiamis 48:45
Yeah, have you also discovered a new purpose and passion in life? Is this something that you’re working on? Is there something more purposeful about your life these days?

Spreading Stroke Awareness Across India

Anshul Bhardwaj 48:57
Yes, I want to aware. I want to aware, make people of my country aware about I want to spread shock awareness in my country to every household. I have a plan, which I wanted to share with my office. I didn’t got the opportunity to work from home, so I’m not connected with them right now. So, what I have a plan is, so I have a plan. I work for the news channel. It get broadcasted to all of the TV channels, so I had a plan to have a stroke series and my news channel, Stroke Awareness series.

Bill Gasiamis 49:31
Yeah, that’d be amazing. Yeah. I hope it works out for you. And sure, I really appreciate you reaching out and joining me on the podcast, I appreciate you sharing your story and being so open and vulnerable, and I wish you well in your recovery, and I look forward to hearing how you continue to spread the message about stroke Stroke Awareness and how you are achieving those new goals in your life. Yes. Thank you for joining me. I really appreciate it.

Anshul Bhardwaj 50:02
Thank you, sir. It’s a big pleasure of mine.

Bill Gasiamis 50:05
What a powerful and courageous conversation, the honesty, vulnerability that angel brought to the discussion is exactly what the stroke community needs real talk about the challenges that most people are too afraid to mention if you’re struggling with erectile dysfunction, bowel control issues, or any other challenge that’s left you feeling ashamed or isolated. Please know that these are neurological symptoms, not personal failures, and as we heard today, they can improve with time and proper support.

Bill Gasiamis 50:35
If this episode resonated with you and you want to explore more about the unexpected way that growth can come from stroke recovery. Check out my book, The Unexpected Way That A Stroke Became The Best Thing That Happened. You can find it at recoveryafterstroke.com/book. Please subscribe to the podcast so you never miss these conversations. Leave a comment on YouTube, sharing your own experience, and if this episode helped you. Share it with someone who needs to hear it. And a final thank you to Banksia tech for supporting this episode.

Bill Gasiamis 51:07
If you’re looking for ways to improve hand function after stroke, check out the Hanson rehab glove by cerebo at Banksia tech.com.au, remember, you’re not alone in this recovery journey. There are people who understand, people who care, and people who are walking the path right alongside you. I’ll see you in the next episode. Take care.

Intro 51:30
Importantly, we present many podcasts designed to give you an insight and understanding into the experiences of other individuals. Opinions and treatment protocols discussed during any podcast are the individual’s own experience, and we do not necessarily share the same opinion, nor do we recommend any treatment protocol. Discussed all content on this website and any linked blog, podcast or video material controlled this website or content is created and produced for informational purposes only and is largely based on the personal experience of Bill Gasiamis.

Intro 51:59
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Intro 52:24
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Intro 52:51
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The post Anshul Bhadwaj: Breaking the Silence on Sexual Health and Dignity After Stroke appeared first on Recovery After Stroke.

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#Podcasting Education #Recovery After Stroke