Post stroke attitude change.

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NancyNJ Asked October 2023

Post stroke attitude change.

My Mother has been in subacute rehab for almost a month now, where she's recovering from a stroke and has caught up on lithium med after hospital mistakenly left it off her list during admin there. Her lithium levels are at the baseline therapeutic level currently and she does seem more clear and communicates her needs better now.
What I'm really trying to figure out/get used to is the grumpiness/anger she shows sometimes. I've read that stroke survivors can uncharacteristically become angry/grumpy.Can anyone who has experience with these emotional changes share how things eventually worked out? I'm trying to assess if she and we are prepared for eventual discharge. Thanks in advance.

Behavior Change Rehabilitation Center Senior Health Stroke

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score 1 · Answer 1

'Emotional Lability' can happen to some stroke survivors. This is exaggerated moods or rapid mood swings. As Alva mentiones, increased anger can be depression - another common issue after stroke.

Learning new ways to cope with mobility or thinking changes takes time. Maybe new OT equipment is needed? Or a change to the daily routine to avoid fatigue? Medications may be recommended for mood to assist smoothing out.
My LO has benefitied from a mood med to 'knock the edge off' increased anxiety/frustrations post stroke.

Is the discharge plan to the same address as before? Has your Mother had a needs assessment to work out what extra help or services will be required? It will be a time of adjustment for all of you.

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score 1 · Answer 2

Ask her doctors if she needs mood meds. If so, it might be better if she adjusts to them before she is discharged.

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score 1 · Answer 3

My mother had three strokes from clots over several years and then a huge hemorrhagic stroke that was a complete game changer. For the smaller strokes, our family saw what we thought were pretty good recoveries as her physical abilities returned within a short timeframe with little therapy. What we failed to fully understand and insist on treatment for, was the change in her demeanor. She lost interest in activities she’d always enjoyed, did very little, spent her days sitting on the sofa working crossword puzzles (insisting that kept her mind sharp) and refused all exercise. In short, she was angry and depressed. We learned much later that strokes often cause changes in mental health status, with depression being common, and manifesting in a number of ways. Sadly, for my mom the situation never got better. I hope your mother will get the proper treatment and improve soon

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score 0 · Answer 4

I also considered depression might be at play, understandably. Thank you for the info.

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score 3 · Answer 5

As an RN I can tell you this is very common. Strokes can affect or pressure areas of the brain that are more "primitive" and more prone to emotional disinhibition. This would account for the changes and often stroke victims are utterly changed from their strokes. Sometimes these changes swing back to normal but that most often happens within the first month of the stroke. Changes that last longer may well be permanent. You are also dealing with someone who has likely got some depression due to all this; depression often manifests as anger. It would be difficult for someone to judge exactly what is causing these changes or how long they may last.

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Post stroke attitude change.

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