These symptoms should also be treated as a medical emergency to reduce the chances of having another stroke. Recognising the signs of a stroke depression – many people experience intense bouts of crying, feel hopeless and withdraw from social activities age – you're more likely to have a stroke if you're over 55, although about 1 in 4 strokes happen to younger people Recovery in my brain injury program was exhausting and tiresome-- physically, cognitively, but especially emotionally. I realized that I could not participate in what made up most of my identity anymore. Things I had spent my life developing including my career, personality, communication style, and physicality disappeared in an instant. My aphasia significantly impacted my confidence in conversations and relationships. I avoided phone calls and get-togethers with friends because I felt uncomfortable and embarrassed by my speech. With my family I was very emotional, and I spent the days sobbing and grieving the “old me” from before the stroke. I wanted to give up.

You can find practical tools and over 200 helpful videos from the Stroke Association to help you to understand stroke and manage its effects. This includes a dedicated section for family and friends, which provides information on the impact of stroke and guidance on how to support a loved one. spatial awareness – having a natural awareness of where your body is in relation to your immediate environment

Visual problems

For help and support with your online account, we're here to help. You can send us an online enqury and we'll help to get you online.

Symptoms in the FAST test identify most strokes, but occasionally a stroke can cause different symptoms.

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A number of necessary improvements have been identified to ensure the tool is integrated easily into the stroke pathway: There are 2 main types of stroke: ischaemic strokes and haemorrhagic strokes. They affect the brain in different ways and can have different causes. Ischaemic strokes

For help and support with your online account, we're here to help. You can send us an online enquiry and we'll help to get you online. There should also be a regular review of any problems of depression and anxiety, and psychological and emotional symptoms generally. Our online community and friendly forums (link is external) are a great place to connect with others from the comfort of your own home. You can share your stroke experience, stories and tips, and find out how others manage recovery. You may also be given advice about how to perform tasks that can be difficult if your vision is reduced on one side, such as getting dressed. Want to know more? Future improvements should include the ability to update the personalisation as a patient progresses through the pathway and their recovery, ensuring information is always up to date (reminders)If there's weakness in the muscles involved in speech as a result of brain damage, this is known as dysarthria. Socialising with friends or pursuing leisure interests will help you cope better with the situation. Ask for help Having sex will not put you at higher risk of having another stroke. There's no guarantee you will not have another stroke, but there's no reason why it should happen while you're having sex. of users would recommend My Stroke Guide to others affected by stroke*. It provides resources and information to support the recovery of people affected by stroke. Discover the stories of stroke survivors and carers who have used My Stroke Guide, and how it has benefited them and their loved ones:

You can also read about how to care for someone with communication difficulties. Want to know more? If you have problems with your vision after a stroke, you'll be referred to an eye specialist called an orthoptist, who can assess your vision and suggest possible treatments. Encouraging and praising any progress, no matter how small it may appear, can help motivate someone who's had a stroke to achieve their long-term goals. Make time for yourselfYou'll usually require long-term treatment with medicines that improve the risk factors for your stroke. Be aware that some medicines can reduce your sex drive (libido), so make sure your doctor knows if you have a problem as there may be other medicines that can help. For some people, medicines and psychological therapies, such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may help. If you're caring for someone who's had a stroke, it's important not to neglect your own physical and psychological wellbeing. If you have had a stroke or TIA, you cannot drive for 1 month. Whether you can return to driving depends on what long-term disabilities you may have and the type of vehicle you drive.