After I had this "virus" seven years before my An was discovered, I was left with some pretty awful vertigo probelms and then balance issues etc. for ages and ages. I was so worried about losing my "mind" especially since i knew something else was wrong but had no diagnosis, i began to play all sorts of games on my computer: a spy game against the clock demanding hand eye co-ordination; backgammon, chess, both online; drawing a phrase or word (isketch) online; plus a number of others all based on hand/eye/ thinking etc...
As for hobbies, i had so much time on my hands i HAD to resume some: painting, drawing, reading, writing, a few others too...
oops.. hit the wrong keyboard button and off it went before i finished this...
Didn't think of using non-dominant hand arm except i did try carrying any grocery bags with it to get it back in fuller use.
As for new ideas and experciences, I think i had quite a few of those over the last 7-8 years, some of which were online classes, art classes at a nearby art gallery, a writing course or two if only to get back into it, (still struggling with that one due to dyslexic typing!); new international cooking ideas; some renos though others did the work lol; new people; and the list goes on...
now and then i admit i can get "down" but then i find a new interest and begin to pursue it... makes for some fun in life too.
i still find I have memory problems though....
W.