Mood Swings and Depression After a Stroke
Mood Swings and Depression After a Stroke
After a stroke, a person may feel
sudden or extreme emotions. Sadness and depression are common. These feelings may
be due to
damage in the brain. Or they may be a response to the person’s awareness of what has
happened.
Coping with mood swings
One common effect of stroke is
lability. This problem makes people less able to control their emotions. Lability
may
cause a sudden mood shift that is out of context with what is going on. A person may
suddenly cry or laugh.
You can help
-
Stay calm. Accept the behavior and go on with what you were doing.
-
If the person apologizes, acknowledge the behavior as a result of the stroke.
-
Don't criticize.
-
Treat the person with respect at all times.
Dealing with depression
A person may feel depressed after having a stroke. This may be due to brain damage.
Changes in body image and grieving for lost skills, such as speech or freedom of movement,
may also cause depression.
You can help
-
Ask the healthcare provider
whether medicine can help reduce the depression. You may need to take your loved
one to see a psychiatrist or psychologist if they have severe depression.
-
Help the person stay active. Play games, watch TV, take a walk, or listen to music
together.
-
Ask friends to visit if the person is willing to see them.
-
Don't discount depression by telling the person to “cheer up.”
Online Medical Reviewer: Deepak Sudheendra MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Anne Fetterman RN BSN
Online Medical Reviewer: Raymond Kent Turley BSN MSN RN
Date Last Reviewed:
5/1/2022
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