Nearly 2 million brain cells die per minute until a stroke is treated, so proper post-stroke care is critical in achieving the best possible recovery. At MedCare Clinics, the triple board-certified psychiatrist and medical team provide post-stroke care that addresses the mental health needs of people recovering from a stroke, including common problems like depression. Call the Houston, Texas, office or book your post-stroke care assessment using the online scheduling feature now.
Post-stroke care is medical care focused on recovery and return to everyday life following a stroke. At MedCare Clinics, the team, including a triple board-certified psychiatrist, focuses on mental health following a stroke.
Strokes cause biochemical changes in the brain, often resulting in difficulty feeling positive emotions. Around 33% of stroke survivors experience depression, an incidence up to six times higher than people who have never experienced a stroke.
Depression is the most common mental health disorder that affects stroke survivors, but other conditions, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are also fairly common.
Everyone who experiences a stroke needs post-stroke care to recover as fully as possible. Your recovery team will likely include a physician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, language therapist, and mental health specialist.
If you’re experiencing symptoms of depression during your recovery, it’s important to discuss those issues with your stroke recovery team so you can get the right support system in place. Some symptoms of depression after a stroke include feelings of:
You might also:
You need post-stroke mental health care if you’re experiencing any mental symptoms that disrupt your life or prevent your recovery. It can be difficult to separate mental symptoms from cognitive issues that are common after a stroke, so it’s important to schedule an evaluation at MedCare Clinics as soon as possible if you’re struggling.
The MedCare Clinics team customizes post-stroke mental health care for each patient. In general, mental health care usually includes medication management, often with antidepressants, and psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
These therapies can help you improve cognition, memory, and mental problem-solving skills while lightening your heavy emotions.
The team can also provide referrals for rehabilitation therapy like speech, physical, and occupational therapy if you don’t already have a team to help you recover from your stroke.
Stroke recovery can be a long journey and may seem overwhelming at times. The MedCare Clinics team is here to give you hope and lead you to a happy and productive future after a stroke. Call the office or book your appointment online today.