#145 When Did You Stop Believing You Mattered?

She looked calm. Capable. But when I asked what she needed—she couldn’t answer. Not because she didn’t care. Because she didn’t remember how to.

If you’re the one keeping everything afloat—managing meds, moods, meals, and meaning—you might not realize what’s been lost. Not your partner. You.

This episode is about what happens when caregiving stops being something you do… and quietly becomes who you are. It’s not about blame. It’s about awareness. Because once you can name what’s happening, you can begin to change it.

– What “role engulfment” actually is—and why it’s not just burnout – How care partners disappear inside the job and lose access to their own needs – Why even small decisions can feel impossible when you’re emotionally fogged – One shift that can help you start coming back to yourself – A story that reveals the real turning point—not just for you, but for your relationship

If this hit home—there’s a story I want you to read. It’s called Are You Lisa or Elena? Two care partners. Same diagnosis. Very different outcomes. Find out which one is yours: https://lifeaphasiaacademy.co/f/lisa-or-elena

More Resources: Speak up for yourself after stroke—Take It Back: https://lifeaphasiaacademy.co/f/take-it-back Learn why aphasia progress never really stops (and how to spot it): https://dolifespeechpathology.com/f/neuroplasticity Explore care partner tools, mindset shifts, and coaching: https://lifeaphasiaacademy.co/care-partner-resources Curious about therapy or coaching support? Learn about our services: https://dolifespeechpathology.com Want help learning how to be a care partner and maintain yourself? Check out the LIFE Aphasia Collective: https://dolifespeechpathology.co/collective Watch more content on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LIFESpeechPathology/videos Prefer audio? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listen-for-life-aphasia-podcast/id1621948384

You’re not failing. You’re adapting. But you don’t have to disappear in the process. There’s a way back to you.