🎧 Episode 4: When Friends Just Don’t Understand – How to Keep Your Circle Involved Without Losing Yourself

When you come home after a heart attack, you expect life with your mates to go back to normal — but it rarely does. In this episode, Dougie opens up about the awkward shift that happens when friends mean well but just don’t understand what you’re going through.

From feeling pressure to “be fine” to realising that the banter hits differently now, Dougie talks honestly about friendship, boundaries, and what it means to stay connected when your world has changed. He shares simple ways to keep your circle involved — with honesty, space, and truth — without losing yourself in the process.

If you’ve ever felt like your friends just don’t get it, or you’re tired of pretending you’re “back to normal,” this one’s for you.

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com to join the weekly Reflection Letters — real talk for men rebuilding life after a heart attack.

💻 Visit StrongerAfterTheStorm.com — the home of the podcast and weekly Reflection Letters.
📩 Each week I write an honest letter for men rebuilding life after a heart attack. You can join in on the site.
🎧 Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss the next episode.
⭐ If something in this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify — it really helps more men find us.
🤝 And if you know someone going through the same storm, share this with him. It might be just what he needs today.

The visitors leave. The messages slow down. And suddenly — it’s just you and the quiet. In this heartfelt episode, Dougie explores the heavy isolation that can take hold after the hospital discharge. Living alone in his countryside cottage, he describes how silence, once peaceful, turned into a lonely weight. This is a conversation about the quiet that doesn’t heal — and what it takes to reconnect.

If you're struggling with loneliness after a heart attack, wondering how to find connection again, or feeling emotionally stuck, this episode is for you. It’s not about fixing everything — it’s about taking small steps back to the world. Real connection. Gentle strength. Start by tuning in — and maybe by saying hello to someone new.

👉 If isolation has been creeping in for you, you’re not alone. Join my letter and stay connected with men walking the same path.

💻 Visit the website: StrongerAfterTheStorm.com
📩 Get my free weekly reflection letter for men rebuilding after a heart attack — sign up on the site.
🎧 Follow the show so you never miss an episode.
⭐ If this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really makes a difference.
🤝 Share this with another man who’s rebuilding life after a heart attack. You never know how much it might help.

When your body suddenly says “no more,” it can shake your very identity. Dougie opens up about masculinity, vulnerability, and what true strength looks like after a heart attack.

Your body has changed — but what about your identity? In this powerful follow-up, Dougie opens up about the emotional fallout that hit after surviving his heart attack. He asks the unspoken question many men face: 'Am I still the man I was?' Through quiet reflection and heartfelt insight, this episode explores masculinity, identity loss, emotional strength, and the courage it takes to redefine what it means to be a man after trauma.

Perfect for men asking deeper questions in the aftermath of heart surgery or illness, this conversation is an invitation to look at real strength. If you're questioning your purpose, self-worth, or how to move forward with dignity and truth, you're in the right place. Let’s talk about becoming stronger — not just in body, but in spirit.

👉 Wondering what real strength looks like now? I share reflections each week in my letter — sign up and let’s keep the conversation going.

💻 Visit the website: StrongerAfterTheStorm.com
📩 Get my free weekly reflection letter for men rebuilding after a heart attack — sign up on the site.
🎧 Follow the show so you never miss an episode.
⭐ If this episode helped you, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really makes a difference.
🤝 Share this with another man who’s rebuilding life after a heart attack. You never know how much it might help.