We have difficulty controlling our emotions & it’s #$@!% hard!
If you are like other stroke patients, you are going or have been through a range of emotions. These feelings are “normal” when we’ve faced such an overwhelming change. Like:
- · Shock · Anger
- · Guilt · Loss
- · Anxiety · Feeling low or depressed
- · Feeling despair or suicidal thoughts
Sometimes some of them or all of them in a week!
I want to focus on our difficulty controlling our emotions. I was very stoic until the strokes. Now I cry, get mad or laugh all the time, sometimes inappropriately! Just ask my boys and my wife. After almost 12 years since the strokes, it has gotten better. My feelings are now more appropriate. I cry when I read a sad story. I get mad at an injustice. Or I laugh at a funny quip.
Hear Ye…Attention…Hey you! Go to my website at www.success4lifetime.org. You can find all about my group training. It is going to be held next Monday! At 5 PM ET on November 29th. I will lead a discussion about our attitude and ways we can change it! I will be waiting for you! And by the way, give me your feedback below. I’m curious what you know! Back to the story!
This condition is called emotionalism or emotional lability. Those words are difficult even if you don’t have aphasia! It means that our mood changes fast. We are more emotional than we used to be. We can feel something for no reason at all. Some people start to swear when they didn’t do so before their stroke.
Emotionalism is common in the acute phase of the stroke. Studies show about one-fifth of stroke patients experience it. It can be upsetting, especially if you weren’t an emotional person before your stroke. Like me. Some people feel embarrassed, so they stop going out or try to avoid social situations.
To treat it, do the 4 items:
1. Give it time because most get better over time.
2. Be open about it and tell others. You’ll be less embarrassed if you do become emotional in front of others.
3. Tell people when it is real feelings or side effects of your stroke.
4. Distract yourself when you feel inappropriate feelings. Recite some mantra to yourself.
It is all part of the stroke voyage. We didn’t sign up for it, but we are on the journey!
Remember to watch my other videos on YouTube. Check out my video titled “Which foods are you going to eat after your stroke?” Really, this video is for everyone, not just for stroke patients. You sometimes eat, right?
Thank you. To your success!
Sources: https://www.stroke.org.uk/effects-of-stroke/emotional-changes https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31136206/ & https://constanttherapyhealth.com/brainwire/identity-and-finding-meaning-after-stroke/
#strokethivors
#Iammoreemotional
#feelinappropriately
#overwhelmingchange
# emotionalism
#nowswear
#onefifthstrokepatients
#4itemstotreatit
#pnlchallenge
#BDC
