Topic Overview
Depending on what part of the brain was affected by a , the way a person acts may be different from how he or she acted before the stroke.
A person who was very concerned about details before a
stroke may become sloppy and care little about
personal appearance after a stroke. Because these problems may be annoying, it
is easy to think that there is an emotional or psychological problem. In
fact:
- There may be a problem with memory. Someone who
fails to bathe or change clothes may need a checklist on the bathroom mirror as
a reminder.
- There may be a behavior problem. The person may not
respond appropriately in social situations. Inappropriate behavior should be
discussed immediately and in a matter-of-fact way.
If your family member has judgment problems:
- Remember that nagging or getting angry only makes
things worse.
- Tell the person immediately when he or she does
something wrong.
- Be sure to acknowledge when he or she does the
“right” thing.
- Talk with your doctor to see if medicines might help
treat the problem.