Stroke Side Effects: Crying & Laughing Uncontrollably
There can be many post-stroke symptoms during the recovery phase. On top of physical problems, cognitive issues can also occur, one of common ones being pseudobulbar affect (PBA).
What is pseudobulbar affect (PBA)?
Reported to show in 53% of stroke survivors, PBA is a neurological condition that causes uncontrollable crying or laughing. These responses are exaggerated or inappropriate to the situation, such as hysterical laughing or crying out of context. They could also have spontaneous emotional outbursts without any type of trigger. These behaviours may be embarrassing and offensive, and cause conflicts in social life and relationships. However, it is important to note that they do not reflect the person’s actual feelings.
What causes emotional outbursts?
PBA occurs when stroke harms parts of the brain responsible for regulating emotional expression. This damage leads to disruptions in brain signals, resulting in uncontrollable episodes of laughter or crying.
While stroke is a common cause of PBA, it can also be triggered by other neurological conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, dementia, Wilson’s disease, or brain tumors.
How to support your older adult with PBA:
- Keep a record of emotional episodes. Documenting each instance can assist the doctor in making an accurate diagnosis.
- Remind them the emotional outbursts are not their fault, just a side effect of stroke
- Reassure and let them know they’re not alone
How stroke survivors can manage PBA symptoms:
- Inform family and friends about the problem so they understand the struggle.
- If you sense an outburst coming, distract yourself by counting items on a shelf or thinking about something unrelated.
- Take slow, deep breaths to regain control over the situation.
- Relax tense muscles, including your forehead and shoulders, during an episode.
- If you feel like you might laugh or cry, try changing your body position.
Getting a diagnosis is crucial to determine if your older loved one is experiencing PBA. But if you’d like help to determine if you or your loved senior is experiencing PBA, you can take the quiz.
At Living Waters Aged Care, we deeply care about our senior’s safety and independence. If you would like to find more information about how to stay safe and supported, contact us today.
