He asked what’s for dinner. She saw his blank stare, thought he was angry, and pulled away. But it wasn’t anger at all.

We don’t talk about this enough—the way aphasia and stroke can twist how care partners interpret every look, every sigh, every silence. You end up carrying blame that was never yours. That’s why I teach the ACE Filter: Aphasia, Cognition, Emotion. It’s a way to stop, pause, and ask what’s really happening before you react.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why misreading “Resting B-Face” is one of the most painful hidden traps for care partners

• How the ACE Filter (Aphasia, Cognition, Emotion) helps you play detective instead of taking it personally

• The Facebook myth I see over and over: “They’re always angry at me”

• A simple way to shift from blame to clarity in the hardest everyday moments

If this landed for you, try the Care Partner Compass. It’s free, it gives you clarity about your strengths and struggles, and it helps you see where to focus for better connection. The link’s below.

More Resources:

Care Partner Compass: https://care-partner-strength-wheel.lovable.app/

Speak up for yourself after stroke—Take It Back: https://lifeaphasiaacademy.co/f/take-it-back

 Feel stuck? This will remind you why progress is still possible: https://dolifespeechpathology.com/f/neuroplasticity

 Explore therapy options: https://dolifespeechpathology.com

 Join our private support community: https://dolifespeechpathology.co/collective

 Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@LIFESpeechPathology/videos

 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/listen-for-life-aphasia-podcast/id1621948384

Start small. Start here. Start with you.