From stroke to strength: Building mental resilience

 You wouldn't have to do all this crapola if your stroke medical 'professionals' just did their fucking jobs and delivered EXACT 100% RECOVERY PROTOCOLS! This is working on the secondary problem of depression, rather than the correct course of action, which is to solve the primary problem; 100% RECOVERY! Full recovery equals NO depression; it's that simple!

From stroke to strength: Building mental resilience

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (WGEM) - Stroke — 800,000 people in the U.S. will suffer from one this year. It’s the leading cause of long-term disability. It can impact a person’s speech, movement and memory. When treating patients who have had their life changed by a stroke, there are limits to what medicine can do.(Why? You've given up on solving stroke? Stroke survivors can never give up.) That’s why new interventions are being used that help promote resilience after a stroke.

“I felt like a pulsing all the way in the back of my head,” described Quincy Taylor.

That was the moment Taylor’s life changed forever.

“It was the worst pain that I’ve experienced so far in my life,” he said.

Taylor suffered a stroke and like many survivors, he faced months of rehab working on his balance and coordination. That’s not all survivors struggle with.

“Half of all stroke survivors will experience post-stroke depression at some point in time after their stroke,” explained Alexandra Terrill, PhD, Clinical Psychology at University of Utah Health.

Post-stroke depression can impact a patient’s motivation for rehab and can lead to social isolation. Studies show rates of hospitalization increase and relationships can suffer. Dr. Terrill led a study using positive psychology to help stroke survivors and their caregivers.

“Positive psychology is really something that’s focused on the strengths or resources that an individual has and that can be built upon,” she stated.

The eight-week program helps couples practice goal setting, communication strategies, gratitude, finding meaning and fostering connections with each other and those in their social circles.

“We saw a dramatic increase in resilience for the person who had the stroke,” said Dr. Terrill.

Resilience is a person’s ability to adapt and cope when faced with the challenges both mentally and physically after a stroke – and building resilience is just as important for the caregiver.

“Right now, I’m feeling like I’m doing a little bit better than what I was before,” Taylor said.

The NIH reports that people who suffer post-stroke depression are more likely to be dependent for life on caregivers and have a higher risk of having another stroke. Dr. Terrill believes positive psychology can be a simple, cost-effective and life-saving solution to post-stroke depression. A larger NIH funded study is being conducted now across the United States.