#140 Right Hemisphere Stroke & Relationships: What’s Different Now

"Why does it feel like your loved one has changed emotionally after their stroke? Why do they miss social cues, seem indifferent, or struggle to respond appropriately? And most importantly—how can you navigate these changes without feeling hurt or disconnected?"

After a right hemisphere stroke, survivors often struggle to recognize emotions, pick up on social cues, or respond in the way they used to. It’s not that they don’t care—it’s that their brain is processing relationships and emotions differently now.

In this episode, we’re uncovering:
✔️ Why right hemisphere strokes change emotional responses
✔️ Why care partners often feel hurt, frustrated, or unappreciated
✔️ How to separate the stroke from the person (so it doesn’t feel personal)
✔️ Concrete strategies to adapt, communicate, and reconnect

💡 Feeling overwhelmed as a stroke care partner?

You were thrown into this role without training, without a guide, and without a support system—and now, you’re carrying the weight of recovery on your shoulders.

We’ve found that stroke recovery accelerates when care partners have the right knowledge, tools, and support. But too often, care partners lose themselves in the process—feeling exhausted, disconnected, and unsure of what to do next.

That’s why we created First Steps to LIFE Beyond Aphasia: Build Your Support Map—a 90-minute course designed to help you take care of yourself first.

✅ Understand your own identity shift as a care partner (because recovery changes your life too).
✅ Build a strong support system so you don’t have to do this alone.
✅ Shift from survival mode to feeling confident & in control—for both you and your loved one.

This course will change the way you approach being a stroke care partner—giving you the first, most important step toward balance, clarity, and support.

📌 Learn more and enroll today → https://dolifespeechpathology/first-steps

🎧 Listen now to learn how to navigate emotions & relationships after stroke.