Many stroke survivors experience emotional changes after a stroke as resulting brain injuries can affect how a person moves, feels, behaves, and thinks. Orlando home care experts have put together the following list of common emotional changes seniors experience after a stroke.
1. Depression
During stroke recovery, seniors often experience depression, which manifests itself through feelings of hopelessness. It adversely affects quality of life, and if not dealt with, can slow down the recovery process. Depression may be caused by biochemical changes that occur in the brain during a stroke, but practical stroke management practices such as following a healthy lifestyle plan can help stroke survivors fight depression.
2. Anxiety
There is a direct correlation between strokes and anxiety disorder in post-stroke patients. Anxiety is a psychological and physical response to a stroke, which creates feelings of fear accompanied by an acute sense of uneasiness. During an anxiety attack, the blood flow increases to the heart causing sweating, rapid heart rate, and shortness of breath. A high level of fear and anxiety have a negative effect on the overall health of a stoke survivor. Patients feel less anxiety when they receive emotional support from their loved ones and ongoing companionship from an in-home caregiver orlando.
3. Emotional Lability
Emotional Lability causes seniors who have experienced a stroke to have uncontrolled episodes of laughing and crying. These responses can occur with or without provocation or emotional triggers. The emotional expression pathways of the survivor may be damaged creating the inability to control their reactions. Emotional stabilizing activities such as calm music have proven to help people with this neurological condition.
4. Apathy
There is a high rate of apathy among stroke survivors. These seniors show signs of passiveness, listlessness, and lack of motivation. They display little to no interest in things and people around them. This emotional change is caused from a combination of both psychological and biological factors. Caregivers need to know that apathy is not necessarily a state of depression and understand that the patient may actually feel content.
For help managing your loved one’s recovery after a stroke, reach out to Prestige Home Care. Our expertly trained caregivers can assist with activities like grocery shopping and preparing meals that meet new dietary recommendations, provide physical assistance during therapy exercises, and can offer emotional support during the recovery process. To learn more, visit https://prestigehomecareorlando.com/ or call (407) 232-7155 and schedule a complimentary in-home consultation.