Psychological support for stroke patients

  With the development of China’s aging problem, environmental changes, irregular work and rest, stroke has become the number one killer threatening the lives of Chinese people, and with the increase of stroke population year by year, the trend of low age has increased, and the psychological guidance for stroke patients has also received more and more attention!  The psychological process of a stroke patient is divided into five stages, most people go through at least two or three of them, and the treatment for each stage varies. The first stage is the shock stage, which is usually short and most people are able to get through it quickly on their own, mainly because they are panicked, overwhelmed, and unable to face and accept their paralyzed body. At this time, supportive therapy with encouragement and comfort is generally adopted to reduce the patient’s fear as soon as possible, also with the help of sedative drugs if necessary.  The second phase is the denial phase, which can last for several weeks. Patients quiet down from the fear, while the understanding and treatment of the disease is not clear, so they have high expectations of recovery. At this time, patients should not be clearly informed of the prognosis, they should be encouraged to actively participate in the rehabilitation treatment, and at the same time, they should avoid the patients and give a good account of the patient’s condition with their families so that they can actively cooperate with the treatment work!  The third phase is the depression phase, which can last from several weeks to several months. Patients have already started rehabilitation treatment at this time, and have intuitive feelings about the problems in their thinking, body and speech, and feel confused and disappointed about the longer rehabilitation treatment. At this point, the patient should be motivated, and the difficulty of training can be appropriately reduced so that the patient can see his or her progress and restore hope.  The fourth stage is the period of opposition to independence. At this time, the patient has adapted to rehabilitation training and gradually plans for himself or herself, relying excessively on family members and caregivers. At this time, the patient should emphasize the importance of functional exercise, set rehabilitation goals and programs with the patient, and treat the patient with patience and care, not to rush the patient!  The fifth stage is the adaptation period, when the patient has felt his recovery and actively participates in the rehabilitation treatment. At this time, you should seize the patient’s psychology, tap the patient’s potential and consolidate the treatment effect!