Emotions

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My stroke was November. Since then my emotions have been disruptive. Pharmacy said emotions would settle. Stroke support agreed.
However…the intensity of emotions has increased to s worrying level.
Not just crying but anger over small things.
I don’t mean anger I mean sudden shouty turning- into -Hulk type anger.
It’s scary. For me. For my son who looks after me.
It is outside mainly.
Like I was walking along pavement when s van launched on the pavement and drove st me.
If he expected this old man to cower or move he was mistaken.
I went ballistic!!
Just now in a shop I was being watched by staff ( they watch everyone) I started being weird and forgot why I was in there. I felt treated like a criminal. I became overly agitated and left. Outside I ranted to myself,!

What the hell is happening to me.
It’s not a passing phase as I were told ages ago.
It’s getting worse.

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Puthnabit, It is true that emotions are very close to the surface after a stroke, and I experienced this, too. I had bouts of tears and laughter, thank goodness. I know that when men feel strong emotion, rather than cry, it often expresses as anger. But, I think this stroke effect is supposed to lessen rather than worsen over time. Still, it’s not even been a year for you. Stroke often affects a part of the brain associated with emotions. I’m no expert, only a stroke survivor, but maybe you should see a doctor about this. You may need only a mild medication for a while to calm your emotions a bit. See what the doctor says. Don’t go on being worried about it. Take action to work on the situation. I hope you start feeling better soon, one way or the other. :heart: Jeanne

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Hello Mr. Angry!

I am sorry you are experiencing emotions that seem to be getting worse when you were led to believe they would settle.

I am not a stroke survivor and so do not speak from first hand experience, but I wonder if this might yet be a passing phase or one of the lows in the highs and lows that are part of the journey of a stroke survivor?

Then of course there is the anger emotion that any human being regardless of whether they are a stroke survivor or not experience when triggered by some incident.

If this were to happen to me, I too would have gone ballistic after the initial shock. Your reaction is not necessarily a reaction of a stroke survivor - most people would likely react in this way.

Again, I can see anyone reacting to this. In the crazy world we live in these things happen and many of us are not comfortable with being monitored 24/7 and as you say essentially being treated like criminals. By coincidence I was in my local Waitrose supermarket on Saturday and was greeted by a TV monitor with me in the centre as I entered the store!!! Yes, the store has installed cameras instore and all customers are being recorded whilst they shop.

At the time, I thought about the legality of this as there were no signs to say there are cameras monitoring you and how the data (your image) is going to be stored etc. I can tell you I am not happy but for whatever reason, on this occasion I am not angered by it, but I can imagine there may be some who might be.

Going back to you and how you are feeling, you might benefit from having a chat with your GP, Stroke Team or your pharmacist to revisit the information you were given and see where you might be going next.

Also, In case you have not already seen this on the SA web page, there is quite a lot of information on the subject including a downloadable PDF.

Emotional changes | Stroke Association

emotional_changes_after_stroke_guide.pdf

Also, I wonder if there has been an incident in your life that may be contributing to this?

Has there been any changes in your routines, medications etc?

That is all I can think of but I expect others may have more to offer.

I wish you all the best.

:pray:

Anger management trick

Have you tried this?
Take a deep breath through your nose, filling your lungs and stomach and hold for 10 seconds and then breathe out slowly through your mouth.

Repeat this 10 times.
Note:
Breathe in through your nose and out from your mouth.

This will calm you down.

In fact, you don’t need to be angry to do this. Do this every day and you will feel better and more relaxed.

This exercise takes oxygen to your brain and it helps calm you down.

Try it, you never know :slight_smile:

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Thankyou for this ManjiB I could have tried this several times in the past when I,ve let things get the better of me😆

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@Puthnabit
Unfortunately this is the effects of stroke on some people. Try not to worry about it as sometimes worry encourages the issue to remain. Good luck for the future :four_leaf_clover:

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@Puthnabit sorry to hear you are struggling with your emotions and that it is getting worse.

Emotions can be all over the place after a stroke & can take many months / years to settle. I know I am less tolerant since my stroke 3 1/2 years ago and things wind me up that never used to. It sounds like yours might be on another level though. I wonder if a trip to tte GP might be needed as there may be something other than your stroke causing it. It may also just need more time to settle.

Hope it settles for you soon.

Ann

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Yes there is a calming effect. Being properly hydrated also seems to help.

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Thanks. I cry too or feel like I will.
Possibly I am depressed too.