People experience a wide range of emotions after a stroke. All of them are entirely normal. However, as a provider, you must be able to determine how these ranges of emotion affect the client. How you respond to these emotions and behaviors matters.

 

• Never respond to a client in a negative way that could worsen emotions or behaviors.

• Do not attempt to control or change the behaviors of an individual.

• Do not discourage someone from feeling through and processing their emotions.

• If a client is behaving in a way that is harmful to themselves or others report it to a supervisor/care manager. 

• Approach clients with an open mind and take their feelings seriously. 

• Adopt an "if it were me" approach to empathy and understanding. 

• Do not feel personally attacked by the client's feelings, mood swings, or changes in behavior or attitudes. 

• Understand that some clients may not be able to control their emotions or behaviors due to 

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Problems with depression or anxiety are very common after stroke.  

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Many people also have problems controlling their mood and emotions. This is known as emotionalism (or emotional lability). It can mean that you cry or laugh more, sometimes for no reason at all. Some people start to swear when they hadn’t used to before.

One of the emotions that nearly all stroke survivors have to deal with is frustration. If you don’t deal with your frustrations properly, they can build up and make you irritable, which can be difficult to live with. It can also lead to anger and aggressive behavior.

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"Emotional lability refers to rapid, often exaggerated changes in mood, where strong emotions or feelings (uncontrollable laughing or crying, or heightened irritability or temper) occur. These very strong emotions are sometimes expressed in a way that is greater than the person's emotions."