My stroke was in Aug. 2022. I’ve noticed that when I see something like a TV show that has the least amount of sentiment I’ll cry. If someone is nice to me, I’ll cry, Nature walks do the same. On the other hand if something is the least bit funny or my dog jumps up to greet me I burst out laughing. If a sports figure does a fabulous feat of skill…laughter and giddiness.
Common to anyone?
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Very common indeed. Don’t be tempted to try to hide the reaction out of embarassment. It can be very enjoyable and cathartic. When your family and friends realise you are okay they will accept it.
This goes for women and men too. It is no bad thing to discover you have emotions. Let it all hang out.
Having a stroke sometimes incurs getting a sense of humour by-pass. I recommend keeping that particular organ if you are able. It can be very useful at times.
Keep on keepin’ on
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@Outlander very common. I can laugh and cry within 5 mins if I’m low or someone snaps at me.
Go with it it settles after a while but I still feel it 2 years and 1 month post stroke 
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It’s all both common and natural and all part of the rewiring that’s going on inside your head. And I dare say it’s some of the relearning that we have to go through…just like a baby…relearning control over our emotions perhaps 
Bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride, but will settle down with time.
Just like this little one in the clip below.
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@Outlander all sounds very normal post stroke. My emotions are all over the place. I cry loads but am better than i was. I just go with it now.
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I’m better than I was at first but still definitely still experience what seems mainly an inability to control my emotions. I get the giggles at the silliest things or can cry at anything emotional. I finished a book recently - it was quite a poignant ending but really not THAT emotional - but I sat in a public place blubbing ridiculously
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@Outlander crying’s a thing for me, I can even cry at adverts 
, music can make me cry, basically anything can make me cry, I just go with the flow.
Best wishes
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To my kindred spirits: Thanks so much for your supportive replies. It really is a good feeling when the tears come and of course, the laughter. It is my anger at my body and brain that ruins some of my days.
Self-forgiveness is hard but necessary.
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I was already a really emotional person before the stroke but now even more.
When I was in stroke rehab last year, my wife bought me a personal cd player and some of my favourite Level 42 CDs. When I started to listening to them I started crying my eyes out cos it made feel normal and I was visualizing myself driving in my car listening to them
More recently I got really upset when I heard that Paul O’Grady had died
I know I’m going to be an emotional wreck when I eventually return back to work and see all my work mates again
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Stokie: Hope you are back with your mates very soon.
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@stokiejoey i’ve had plenty of tears in front of my colleagues. I warned them that my stroke has upset my emotions & if I start blubbing I say that it’s my stroke brain having a moment. They’re used to it now 
xx
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@stokiejoey i will not be returning to work but I’m rooting for you.
Emotionally it just gets us all. Hope you are back with your friends and colleagues soon 
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They already know how I am.
Couple of years ago, we were in the smoking bench ( I don’t smoke anymore ) and I played a song, that was played at my mums funeral and i just started blubbing my eyes out. One of my best mates just took my phone off me and switched it off
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@stokiejoey I’ve cried in front of colleagues and my manager since returning to work, just let them know when you return and they’ll understand or join in if they’re feeling emotional too. A good cry does you good
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Aye, @Outlander, I am to believe it is fairly common after stroke, it is sometimes referred to as the pseudobulbar affect or emotional lability. I haven’t read much on the matter as I had the opposite, and was left with a blunted emotional response.
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Blunted emotional response? Example please Rups?
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Think Buster Keaton, I am feeling the emotions inside but can’t express them in the way other people want me to.
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Rups: hope you have a speedy recovery.
@Outlander, after fifteen years the effect has much diminished but I feel the same sometimes, but briefly as a rule. Emotions are a human characteristic. Perhaps we are the more ‘normal’.
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