Stroke Damage Can Cause Crying with No Discernible Trigger
Dear Carol: My husband has had several strokes and is now in a nursing home where I spend much of each day with him. He’s showing signs of vascular dementia, but what I find most upsetting is his crying. He was never an emotional man so any crying would signal a big change, but now he’ll cry over nothing or even something good. I feel helpless to comfort him and even wonder if I should since sometimes, he’s happy crying. I’m told this spontaneous crying is from stroke damage, and some people will laugh at inappropriate times, as well. I am reaching out for support and to let others know they aren’t alone. Thanks for being here for us. – LH
Dear LH: Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s natural for you to want to comfort your husband and you would cure him if you could. Yet, there are so many things that we can’t change. What you’re witnessing is called Pseudobulbar affect (PBA). This is a neurological condition caused by damage to the brain from strokes that can cause inappropriate laughing and/or crying. It’s important to remember that…
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