Having a Stroke Changed my Personality
Emotional Incontinence happens after having a stroke. Which I had. So I am living this. Like it or not. I feel crazy
I've Had This For 11 years. I'm Only Just Acknowledging That I do Now
Emotional Incontinence, or Pseudobulbar Affect can happen after a stroke, or a mini stroke. Emotional Incontinence is when some, or all of our emotions are more extreme after having a stroke than they were before it.
It can change over time.
It has to do with the nervous system
It's a Very Out of Control Feeling
You may laugh, or cry uncontrollably. And yes, I have. The worst is to be out of control of your emotions. I’d always been totally in control of my emotions. I wouldn’t even allow myself to cry in front of anyone.
Now I can cry at the drop of a hat. In addition I can laugh hysterically at something that’s not that hysterical. I hate being out of control of my emotions. For someone who was once very stoic, this is pretty devastating
Sometimes my Actions are Inappropriate for the situation....and What's Changed
....But I never realize at that moment. It's not until I look back on an event that I realize how ridiculous I may have acted. I'm am always horrified with myself afterward
What has changed for me is that In the past few years I've become extremely nervous.... for no reason.
What I’ve realized is that some others can sense this....assuming maybe they're the cause, or just being confused by it..... And I hate knowing that my nerves may be affecting others.
I've been looking for excuses to be nervous, but it's been several years.....obviously emotional incontinence is now effecting my nerves...or maybe it's only now that I am admitting to it.....after 11 years.
Being constantly so nervous can sometimes make me feel manic
I didn't want medication but I just was prescribed a mood stabilizer by a Psychiatrist. Clearly I need it....at least temporarily
How can I be so nervous when I never have anything tangible to be nervous about?
I had the stroke 11 years ago. And I'm only just now dealing with this. This is not a light issue. It's a big deal.
The stroke didn't only affect my balance, and my speech, it affected my thinking, my emotions, my sanity, my relationships, and my life
I was not this person before the stroke..
Brain Damage
It can also cause us to not always think in the most logical way. In addition it can affect decision making. And I am realizing that it has with me
Fortunately, for me it doesn't involve anger. And It's also gotten slightly less with the laughing and crying......but still somewhat out of my control at times. But the nerves have gotten extreme for me. They could eventually get better, but no one can say for sure. In some ways I've improved, in other ways not
There are times I may want to communicate something, but my brain feels so overwhelmed with thoughts that I can't put them together cohesively. I know, that's so weird
This is one example of how a damaged brain sometimes functions.
Feeling like you have little control over some of your emotions, because your brain is damaged can be a little terrifying
This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.
© 2022 jacy albertson
