Not being able to speak was the hardest thing for me, even though it was only temporary. I hated that people didn't understand what I was asking for (itchy foot, kleenex, etc.), and got very frustrated with them. I simply couldn't help myself. When I was able to speak again, I told my parents that I could understand how a stroke victim felt like...You know what you want to say, but you can't make yourself understood. It was the first time I cried during the whole process, when I explained that.

When I got bitchy a friend snapped back at me, and I realized how poorly I had been acting and felt terrible. The tough love worked for me.

Good luck.