This information is designed for stroke survivors, their families and health care professionals working with stroke patients. We aim to provide information about the “hidden” emotional and mental health changes you or someone you know may be experiencing after stroke. The following information aims to help you understand the common emotional changes following a stroke, what might help and where you can access further support.

What to do in a mental health emergency

  • Call 999 or go to A&E if:

    • Someone’s life is at risk – for example they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose

    • You do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe

  • Call 111 (select option 2 for mental health support and advice)

  • Contact an urgent support helpline:

    • West Yorkshire 24-hour Mental Health Support Line: 0800 183 0558 (For anyone registered with a GP in West Yorkshire)

    • Samaritans: 24-hour emotional support service. Call: 116 123 (24/7, 365 days a year, free to call), Email: jo@samaritans.org

    • SHOUT: 24/7 text messaging support service. Text: SHOUT to 85258 (24/7, free on all major mobile networks)

Click here to find your nearest A&E

When feeling overwhelmed or out of control there are a number of strategies that you could try that can help you to manage how you are feeling including :

  • Speak to someone or ask for help
  • Make a plan for the next few hours.
  • Use your usual coping strategies, such as activities you find relaxing or things that help you cope

The Mind website offer tools to help you with these steps - click here.

Having a stroke can be a shocking and difficult experience. Alongside the physical effects stroke can also have more “hidden” effects such as changes to your thinking, attention, planning, memory, solving problems etc. A stroke can also affect your relationships and role. The demands of recovering from a stroke and living with these changes may impact upon how you feel. 

Everyone’s experience of stroke is unique and there is no right or wrong way to feel. You may feel a range of emotions, and this may change over time as you come to terms with the stroke and adjust. Common emotional reactions include:

  • Sadness, hopelessness, low mood
  • Anger, irritability, frustration
  • Anxiety, panic, worry
  • Embarrassment, shame or guilt
  • Changes in your ability to control your emotions. You may find you cry or laugh more easily (which may be emotional lability) or that you are more easily irritable. 

Emotional changes can be a direct result of the stroke as well as an emotional response to your symptoms and their impact. Common concerns reported by people after stroke include:

  • Uncertainty about daily life, finances or the future.
  • Worries about having another stroke, your health or treatment
  • Coping with and managing physical, cognitive and emotional changes.
  • Coping with fatigue or changes to sleep
  • Concerns about relationships and physical intimacy
  • Difficult memories about the stroke and hospital treatment
  • Worries about the impact of the stroke on family
  • Changes in role, for example within the family, work or the community

Often your mood and emotions will improve over time, or you will feel more able to manage them. However, there are some things that you can do to make these difficulties more manageable. Below is a list of tips put together by stroke survivors and healthcare professionals to help promote wellbeing after a stroke.

  1. Stay connected to other: Ask someone how there week has been and focus on what they say. If you can, check in with someone you haven’t spoken to for a while, via telephone or message.
  2. Communicate your feelings: It may feel like you need to put on a ‘brave face’ after your stroke, but bottling up your feelings does not make them go away. Discuss the struggles you are experiencing with family and friends or a member of your care team. This will allow them to better support you.
  3. Keep as active or occupied as possible: Engage in regular enjoyable and important activities that give you enjoyment or a sense of achievement.  Follow your prescribed therapy advice or plan.
  4. Set daily, weekly, and longer-term goals: Setting goals can help you to feel more productive, in control, and motivated. It is often helpful to align these goals with your values, e.g. you may value caring for others, so set a goal to increase your arm mobility so you can hug your loves ones again.
  5. Be kind to yourself: Research shows that being more kind and understanding towards ourselves when we are suffering, can improve our mood.  This does not mean that you are feeling sorry for yourself. Being kind to yourself is not selfish and doesn’t mean you are ‘soft’ or ‘weak’. We all need kindness when we are struggling, especially when we feel low in mood.
  6. Take time to relax: we know that we function best when we feel calm and experience less tension in our body. Practicing deep breathing or mindfulness exercises can help to reduce tension in the body and help us better manage the difficulties we are experiencing.  www.mind.org.uk or www.headspace.com. 
  7. Take time to rest: Remember to make time for rest. When we are physically unwell, it’s likely that we will have less energy and need more time for rest. This is not a sign of failure; it is part of recovering from illness or injury.
  8. Connect with others who have had similar experiences: People often find it helpful to connect to and learn from others that have had similar experiences. Local or online stroke peer support groups can help you learn how others have managed to cope with the impact of their stroke. To find a support group in your area go to the map showing what is available in your area. 
 

If you feel that the emotional impact of stroke is becoming too difficult to manage, and/ or it is beginning to interfere with your daily life, you may wish to seek further support.

  1. ​Speak to your stroke team as they will be able to help or advise how you can access psychological support to help manage these changes. Ask if you have access to a stroke psychology or neuropsychology service in your area.
  2. You can also speak to your GP about NHS Talking Therapies services local to you or discuss if any medications may help.  Go to our medications information for more information.
  3. There are a range of national helplines that can provide advice and support

​​​​​​​Stroke Helpline: 0303 3033 100 / Supporter Care: 0300 3300 740

Telephone: 03451307172 or 01908317618  / Email info@differentstrokes.co.uk

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Tel: 0808 800 2244 / Email: helpline@headway.org.uk

Call: 0800 4 70 80 90 (24/7, free and confidential)

​​​​​​​4. Attend or contact local support groups to meet people who have had similar experiences.  Some examples include:

For more information on emotional changes after stroke, you can read the Stroke Association's leaflet on emotional changes after stroke. This explains some of the emotional problems caused by stroke, including symptoms you may experience. It also gives you information on what you can do, treatments that can help and tips for family and friends. You can also watch the Stroke Association's video on recognising depression. 

NHS Talking Therapies - can help you when struggling with low mood, excessive worry, social anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You can refer yourself directly to an NHS talking therapies service without a referral from a GP, or your GP can refer you. Find your local NHS Talking Therapies Service.

Some mental health services are provided by local authorities such as your council. This could include services like helplines, crisis support and therapy. Find your local council.

Wellbeing & Recovery Colleges - There are several of these mental wellbeing services in West Yorkshire. They can offer guidance on things such as low mood, anxiety, sleep problems or stress.  They provide a wide range of learning opportunities including online courses from the comfort of your own home, group courses, phone advice and one-to-one ‘talking therapies’ that can help you get through to the ‘other side’.

You can register for online or over the phone and you don’t have to go through your GP. The only time they will be contacted is when you have finished your course to let them know, or if we are worried about you or others around you. For further information and to register please visit the link for your areas below:  

If you are already under the care of your local community stroke team, you can ask them more about this topic at your next visit.

Disclaimer

The information contained on this website is not intended to be a substitute for support from a qualified clinical psychologist, doctor or psychotherapist. If you require support with your mental health speak to your GP or Stroke team for advice on how to access the support you need.

If you are in crisis click the button below to find out what to do in an emergency. 

Where to get urgent help for mental health - NHS