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Coping With Emotional Effects
A stroke can cause emotional, thinking and psychological problems as well as physical changes. Common problems are anxiety, depression, changes in emotional control, cognitive effects and personality changes.
Depression
Sometimes people who have had a stroke become depressed. If you feel that this is becoming a serious problem it is important to get medical help. The earlier a serious depression is diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated. Many people that are depressed feel unable to do anything about it and you may have to encourage them to seek help. If they have communication problems you may have to speak for them about it to a doctor if you feel they have been low for a while. Common signs of depression are
- changes in appetite
- changes in sleep pattern
- loss of interest in self
- mood swings
- being easily upset or crying a lot
- loss of motivation and energy
- difficulty concentrating
Although some of these things can also be caused by a stroke your doctor should be able to reach a diagnosis.
Emotional Control
Stroke often affects the ability to control emotions. The person you care for may experience intense feelings that he or she is simply unable to control. Damage from the stroke can also produce excessive weeping or laughter, emotional outbursts, and uncontrolled swearing. Try and remember that these things are likely to be as distressing to the person who has had the stroke as they are to others. These problems are not signs of madness or dementia so reassure the person you care for that you understand.
Cognitive Effects
Stroke may also affect thinking or cognitive processes such as the ability to make sense of what you see, to judge space or distance, to focus attention, to recognise familiar objects, or to solve problems or organise tasks. Tiredness, poor concentraion, memory problems and coping with frustration are also common.
The loss of these abilities can in turn cause intense anxiety, fear or depression. Once cognitive problems are correctly diagnosed, it may be possible to do something about them and so reduce the anxiety or depression they cause. Talk to the GP who may refer the person you care for to a clinical psychologist for a cognitive assessment.
Coping With Tiredness And Poor Concentration
Personality Changes
Sometimes a stroke can change an aspect of someone’s character which people may talk about in terms of changes in personality. Sometimes these changes can alter your feelings towards the person you care for. It is helpful to keep reminding yourself, and others, that the changes are the result of the stroke and that the person you care for has no control over them.
If the stroke has affected the personality or behaviour of the person you care for in ways that are bewildering or distressing, he or she may need specialist help. It may be possible to do something about it or get advice on how to cope with it.
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