How to deal with the stress of post stroke communication difficulties
Life after a stroke can often involve both physical and mental obstacles to overcome. One of these large
obstacles to overcome is verbal communication difficulties. This issue can arise from stroke sufferers
feeling frustrated at not being able to communicate as easily, and not being able to understand their
friends and family members as they did pre- stroke. With stroke sufferers having the added pressure of
having to relearn non verbal gestures, and sentence formation in some cases.
This large change to someone’s way of life, is a challenge that can cause anxiety, stress, frustration, and
anger, to stroke patients, and their families. There are strategies that can assist and improve
communication abilities, these tactics are the usage of communication boards, picture dictionaries, and
local stroke group community services to improve communication abilities.
There are also strategies to assist stroke patients with the stress, frustration, and anxiety that
communication issues can cause . One of the largest strategies that can be use to assist with this stress, is
relaxation and breathing techniques. Relaxation and breathing techniques are important as they can help
reduce stroke patients anxiety, and make everyday tasks a bit less stressful, and overwhelming.
One main breathing technique that can decrease shallow breathing and lower anxiety levels is
Belly breathing (diaphragmatic breathing) (1).
Steps on how to start belly breathing:
1) Find a place to lie down flat on the floor (preferably with a yoga mat)
2) And place one of your hands on your chest, and the other hand on your belly.
3) And start to breathe in slowly through your nose.
4) Gently press on your belly, as this will push on your diaphragm, this will help get air out of your
lungs.
5) repeat these breathing relaxation steps until you feel a bit more relaxed.
This particular type of breathing ( belly breathing) is particularly useful for stroke patients if they
are feeling overwhelmed, and anxious at a particular situation, as it assists with calming your
anxiety, and decreasing stress.
Caring for somebody going through a stressful, and anxiety inducing time can be a very demanding task.
That is why it is important for family members, carers , friends, and support workers to remember to try
and stay calm whilst dealing with the often highly emotional task of caring for stroke patients. A
relaxation technique that can be used by carers , and family members after highly tense verbal
disagreements/altercations with patients is the breathing technique called box breathing. This is a simple
breathing exercise that can decrease anxiety and overall build up body tension, caused by stressful
situations.
Steps on how to do box breathing (2):
1) try and find a quite place and exhale to a count of 4.
2) then hold your lungs empty for a four count.
3) And then inhale to a count of 4.
4) then hold the air in your lungs for a count of 4.
5) and then exhale.
6) Repeat this processes until you are feeling less stressed.
There are also many other great relaxation and breathing techniques that can be utilised and applied to
decrease stressful and tense situations. Often when times are at there most stressful is when mindful
strategies should be put into place. A further breathing technique that can be used whilst a stressful
situation is actually occurring is the simple breathing exercise.
The simple breathing exercise (2):
1) This is a exercise that can be done standing up, sitting, or lying down.
2) Firstly inhale slowly and deeply through your nose, whilst keeping your shoulders relaxed.
3) Exhale slowly through your mouth, as you blow air out, purse your lips slightly, whilst
keeping your jaw relaxed.
4) Repeat this breathing exercises for minutes until you feel more relaxed.
Overall both stroke patients and their family support systems will hopefully use these breathing
and relaxation techniques to improve their quality of life.
And hopefully these techniques will be of assistance in the communication processes when
conversations are becoming tense. And when fraught communication struggles between both
parties are causing tension, anxiety, and frustration.
1) Life with Pulmonary Fibrosis, 2022
Breathing Exercises for Pulmonary Fibrosis | Life with Pulmonary Fibrosis
2) Ankrom, S, 2022, 8 Breathing Techniques and Breathing Exercises for Anxiety
8 Breathing Techniques and Breathing Exercises for Anxiety (verywellmind.com)
Article by Kassia Murphy