What influences a stroke survivor's motivation? Learn more about how health beliefs, self-confidence, and social support are key to maintaining your drive to achieve.

Staying Motivated After Stroke

From dietary changes to new medications and exercise regimens, stroke survivors
receive countless lifestyle recommendations from their healthcare team.
Survivors are often left confused about how to prioritize and implement this
advice. They might not feel capable of additional routine changes if they are
also adjusting to different physical abilities and difficult emotions following
stroke.

Whether one is contemplating or committed to a health decision, understanding
the psychology behind motivation can help remove obstacles in the path towards
change.



The Three Parts of Motivation for Healthy Changes:
 1. Health Beliefs
 2. Self-Confidence
 3. Social Support

Health Beliefs
What we know about our health influences the choices we make to care for
ourselves. Someone who is less informed about their health conditions might not
make medical decisions the same way someone who has greater awareness will. For
example, a stroke survivor might not follow the doctor's advice to take blood
pressure medication consistently because they do not fully understand the
consequences. They might view barriers to refilling the medication as greater
than the risks of not doing so. This individual would likely be more motivated
to refill the prescription if they knew that they were in imminent danger
without it.

 * How to get stroke-savvy: Stay educated on staying healthy after stroke
   [http://https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke/stroke-risk-factors/stroke-risk-factors-you-can-control-treat-and-improve] 
   to ensure that you are performing a thorough cost-benefit analysis when
   making lifestyle decisions. Discuss your concerns with your healthcare
   providers if you are bogged down by barriers to their suggestions. They can
   work with you to come up with solutions or provide additional information
   that might make a difference in your motivation.



Self-Confidence
Belief in yourself is the strongest predictor of behavioral change. But, your
confidence may be disrupted as a result of a stroke, especially if it results in
changes to your body or mind. Stroke survivors may feel discouraged by thoughts
of their previous performance before the stroke or comparisons to able-bodied
peers. Low self-confidence might cause them to avoid the activity altogether.

 * How to feel more confident and capable: Consult printed and internet
   resources to improve awareness of how other stroke survivors engage in your
   desired habits. Many organizations offer groups and classes specifically for
   participants with stroke or disability
   [https://www.stroke-rehab.com/Adaptive-Fitness-Centers.html]. Survivor
   bloggers may have already problem-solved difficult scenarios you are facing
   [https://retrainyourbrain.ca/]. Avoid unjust comparisons to yourself
   pre-stroke or others around you. Instead, focus on your achievements in the
   present.



Social Support
A reliable network of friends or family is associated with better health
outcomes throughout life. Stroke survivors often receive advice to build up
social support networks after returning from the hospital, a time when it may
seem difficult to reconnect with old contacts. Even with an existing support
network, some survivors may still feel alone in addressing their goals if they
do not feel like anyone can relate to their situation.

 * How to increase connections: Draw upon readily-available contacts by reaching
   out to those in your personal life. The more people you notify of your
   desires to change, the more that will check-in about your progress. For
   stroke-specific connections, consider joining an in-person
   [https://www.stroke.org/en/stroke-support-group-finder] or online support
   group [http://www.thestrokechannel.tv/lifeafterstroke.html] to learn and grow
   with like-minded survivors. You might feel more motivated to take on a new
   habit with the backing of your support network, and it will be easier to
   stick with it with them cheering you on!

Ultimately, motivation stems from both internal and external sources. When
making or maintaining a change seems difficult, remember that building up
yourself and turning to your social network can give you the answers,
self-confidence, and support you need to achieve your goals!

References

Kelly, Robert B., et al. “Prediction of Motivation and Behavior Change Following
Health Promotion: Role of Health Beliefs, Social Support, and Self-Efficacy.”
Social Science & Medicine, vol. 32, no. 3, 1991, pp. 311–320.,
doi:10.1016/0277-9536(91)90109-p.

Hardcastle, Sarah J., et al. “Motivating the Unmotivated: How Can Health
Behavior Be Changed in Those Unwilling to Change?” Frontiers in Psychology, vol.
6, 2015, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00835.

Simpson, Lisa A, et al. “Exercise Perceptions among People with Stroke: Barriers
and Facilitators to Participation.” International Journal of Therapy and
Rehabilitation, vol. 18, no. 9, 2011, pp. 520–529.,
doi:10.12968/ijtr.2011.18.9.520.

All information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be
considered a substitute for professional medical advice. All links to external
entities beyond NEOFECT are for purposes of resource provision only and do not
constitute paid or unpaid endorsements.

Stroke Recovery

Many people wonder if emotional and behavioral changes are permanent. The answer is usually no.

Emotional and Behavioral Challenges After a Stroke

A stroke can affect people in a variety of different ways, such as impacting
muscle movement, cognition, speech, and even personalities. Emotional and
behavioral changes can sometimes be the most challenging for both stroke
survivors and their loved ones. Emotional and behavioral changes can be caused
by the physical changes of the brain injury but it can also be caused by how the
stroke has affected the stroke survivor’s outlook on their life.



Everyone is affected by a stroke differently and it’s very common to show signs
of post stroke depression and behavioral changes. Many people often find
themselves feeling angry, frustrated, anxious, hopeless, and sad because the
stroke has changed their lives and they no longer feel like they are the person
they used to be.

Emotional and behavioral changes are NOT permanent
Many people wonder if emotional and behavioral changes are permanent. The answer
is usually no. In order to help these changes, it is important to get help from
a doctor. As part of stroke victim support, a doctor will usually recommend
therapy. Sometimes emotional and behavioral changes don't go away completely but
there are ways to control them and make them more tolerable.

According to the Stroke Association after a life-changing event, such as a
stroke people tend to go through the following stages:

 1. Shock and Denial: confused, afraid, numb
 2. Anger: frustrated, embarrassed, anxious
 3. Depression: feeling overwhelmed and helpless, shutting yourself off from
    others
 4. Coming to terms: reaching out others, wanting to talk, trying to understand
    what has happened
 5. Acceptance: thinking about the future, exploring the new options



Many people become frustrated or angry because they can no longer do the things
they used to do due muscle weakness and impaired range of motion. In order to
regain strength and range of motion in the affected upper extremity, it is very
important to perform repetitive motions in that arm. One way to perform these
exercises is by using either the Neofect Smart Glove or Smart Board
[https://www.neofect.com/us/]. These products will help increase the brain's
ability to rewire itself and increase one's range of motion and strength in the
upper extremities. To learn more about the Neofect Smart Board or Smart Glove
and other stroke victim support products, please call us at (888) 623-8984 or
email us at contactus@neofect.com.

stroke victim support

Did you know games can help increase your brain health? We think that’s pretty cool too! Keep reading to find out how...

5 Ways Games Can Increase Brain Health After Stroke

Written by guest writer and stroke survivor, Peter Evans

Did you know games can help increase your brain health? We think that’s pretty
cool too! Keep reading to find out how:

1. Games take us “out of our heads” and into recovery
Post-Stroke Depression(PSD), anxiety, and other mental health conditions are
common during stroke rehabilitation.
[https://strokefoundation.org.au/About-Stroke/Help-after-stroke/Stroke-resources-and-fact-sheets/Depression-and-anxiety-after-stroke-fact-sheet] 
Luckily, playing games has shown to be an effective way of taking us out of our
heads. This helps keep negative thinking, despair, and worrying at bay. Games
played with family or friends can be an especially helpful for promoting social
interaction, combating isolation and getting us “out of our heads,” so we can
focus on getting better.



2.	Games provide repetition without the monotony
Repetition, consistency and high levels of engagement are often cited as key
determinants in successful stroke rehabilitation. And, whether it’s picking up a
discard in gin rummy, laying down a seven-letter word in Scrabble, or reaching a
higher level in Candy Crush, all games require repetitive tasks and actions to
reach a larger goal. Hm, that sounds an awful lot like work... but it’s not!
Games by their nature are designed to keep us engaged, even entertained, while
we complete what might otherwise be a set of repetitive or boring tasks—all the
benefits of work without it feeling like, well, work! Repetition has been shown
to improve motor function an control after stroke, so why not do it in a fun and
engaging way?



3.	Games require active participation
During recovery, many stroke survivors find themselves with more time on their
hands than they’re used to. And, while watching a great science documentary or
listening to a classic audio book may seem like a worthwhile past time—and they
are— when it comes to increasing the brain’s neuroplasticity, activities that
require active participation are much more helpful. Games require us to show up,
pay attention and keep our head in the game. There are rules to learn and
master, strategies to test, tasks to conquer and progress to monitor.

4.	Games provide clear guidance and objective feedback
In addition to monotony, another common barrier to completing therapy exercises
is the confusion on which exercises to complete and how to correctly perform
them. Many games provide multiple metrics giving you confidence and more insight
into how you’re doing. It’s more than just wins versus losses. Games can provide
feedback on overall speed, accuracy, best play or most points per round.

5.	Games exercise multiple areas of the brain at once
With games you need to learn and remember the rules, track progress and manage
multiple tasks and strategies. These are all great activities for strengthening
your brain health after a stroke or other brain injury. Executive function, fine
motor skills, memory, concentration and planning are all areas of brain function
that are engaged while playing games. The more time a stroke survivor can spend
relearning how to simultaneously balance and manage multiple functional
activities, the faster and deeper the recovery can be. And Recovery is the name
of the game!



If a gamified approach to rehabilitation sounds exciting, get in touch with 
Neofect [http://www.neofect.com] to try out any one of their Neofect Smart
Rehab
tools [https://www.neofect.com/us]. Their products include the Smart Board, a
device for reach retraining, and the Smart Glove for improving forearm, wrist
and hand function. There’s even the the Smart Pegboard, which provides training
for fine motor control. All of the Smart Rehab tools harness the power of games
for recovery. To learn more, call (888) 623-8984 [tel:+18886238984] or email 
contactus@neofect.com.

Neuroplasticity

5 Ways Brain Games For Stroke Rehabilitation Can Increase Brain Health

Depression and anxiety are common side effects experienced by stroke patients. Psychological care is more about understanding and offering timely support.

Psychological Care after Stroke

Depression and anxiety are common side effects experienced by many stroke
patients. These effects can be heightened due to worries surrounding
reintegrating back into everyday life when physical or mental abilities have
changed. For these patients, it can be extremely beneficial to remember to
attend to their mental health needs.

Psychological care is more about understanding and offering timely support
Dr Posy Knights from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
(NICE) has stated that psychological care is less about ‘fixing’ and more about
understanding and offering timely support. Support can come in many forms and is
no longer limited to traditional “therapy.” Thus, it is important for patients
to realize that they are not alone. Thousands of people around the world have
experienced and adjusted to the changed that can occur after a stroke.

Taking an active role in the planning and process of recovery can reduce the
possibility of psychological issues and improve outcomes overall. Active roles
might include befriending other stroke survivors, volunteering, creative new
hobbies, support group attendance, scheduled physical activity, etc.



Psychological care tips for Stroke caregivers
If you are part of a stroke victim's support [https://www.neofect.com/us/blog] 
system, here are some tips on how to encourage them to take an active role:

 * Listen to the patient’s thoughts and make sure the patient is supported by
   you no matter what. Non judgemental peer and/or family support can be an
   effective way to support patients with mild depression and anxiety.
 * Encourage communication between your loved one and other stroke survivors. 
   Each phase of recovery is different, hearing the stories of others can
   provide encouragement, understanding or a light at the end of the tunnel.
   Connection to stroke survivors can be found through online reading, support
   group participation or through stroke based phone advice lines.
 * Promote creative or stimulating activity. It is helpful for patients to
   remember that they can still keep up with old hobbies or learn new skills.
   Some activities may include coloring pages, crosswords, making music, 
   Neofect
   Home [https://www.neofect.com/us/for-home], board games etc. Patients often
   feel more self confident and validated in their abilities when they realize
   that they can continue to complete simple activities by themselves.
 * Spend some time in the community. After a stroke, patients may want to hide
   from the world especially if they are experiencing anxiety or depression.
   Spending time with your loved one outside of the home and including them in
   group activities can help to remind them that they belong to a community.
   Check out the local gym or shopping center, work on gardening tasks, play
   team games like bowling, visit a movie theater, or just sit at a cafe and
   people watch. Help them to remember that the things they enjoy are awaiting
   them.



Little wins add up to Major victories
When working through these tips, don’t forget to acknowledge your loved one’s
achievements, not matter how small. It is easy for patients to overlook the
small stuff. It can be very motivating when someone else notices. Remember,
little wins can add up to major victories. Keep in mind that these strategies
are not a substitute for professional assistance. If you feel that your loved
one is in danger of becoming seriously withdrawn or suicidal please seek advice
from professionals including GPs, nurses, social workers, or therapists.

To learn more about Neofect smart rehab devices [https://shop.neofect.com/],
call (888) 623-8984 [tel:+18886238984] or email info@neofect.com.