Emotional Stroke Recovery

(Music playing) Female: There are over 5 million stroke survivors in the United States, and almost all of them experience emotional changes following their strokes. Let us look at some coping mechanisms Dr. Stephen Silberstein: Having a stroke can effect to the parts of the brain to deal with emotions and social interaction. This can be difficult for survivors, as well as their family, and friends, but understanding emotion disorders can help. Involuntary Emotional Expression Disorder or IEED is a medical condition that causes sudden, unpredictable emotion displays like crying jags or laughing outbursts. IEED occurs when an injury, like a stroke, disrupts brain signaling causing a loss of control over the emotional centers. The result is inappropriate emotional outbursts, such as laughing during a work presentation, or crying at a comedy club. Also known as suta vulvar affect, the disease impacts over 1 million Americans, many of them stroke survivors. IEED has no approved cure, but it can help to be open about having the condition and work with a doctor, or therapist to deal with the unexpected outbursts. It is also comforting to realize that IEED may diminish with time. After a stroke, most survivors suffer some levels of depression. Sometimes the depression goes away on its own, but medication and counseling are frequently needed. Many antidepressants, such as Zoloft and Prozac are available to treat stroke-induced depression. Apathy is different form depression. A person with this condition does not seem to care about anything, including rehabilitation. The best response to apathy is not to accept it. Get a stroke survivor up and moving by offering them choices of what to do, but make it clear that staying in bed is not one of them. Other commonly experienced emotional extremes are bouts of panic and anxiety. Therapy in conjunction with a group of drugs called benzodiazepines can help reduce his symptoms. Benzodiazepines act when the GABA receptor in the central nervous system to combat the anxiety response, and inhibit panic attacks. Valium and Klonopin are both popular benzodiazepines options. After a stroke, some people may want to be alone all the time. However, socializing with family and friends is an important part of rehabilitation. Joining a support group allows a survivor to interact with other people to understand what it is like to have had a stroke. It is also a great way to meet new friends. The emotional challenges that survivors face after a stroke are huge. However, with proper rehabilitation, good care, and a strong support network are prospects for recovery is great. Female: Want to learn more? Check out other videos and sources on this site for more information. (Music playing)