Being a caregiver can feel like living in two worlds — one where your time, energy, and heart are poured into someone else's survival, and another where friendships quietly slip away. The dinners you can't attend, the texts you forget to answer, the invites that stop coming… and suddenly you realize you're lonelier than you've ever been. In this episode, we're naming the reality of caregiver isolation. We'll talk about why the "friend fade" happens, the grief and guilt that come with it, and how to start rebuilding connection — even when your energy feels completely spent. Inside this episode: * The hidden cost of caregiving on friendships and social life. * The "friendship maintenance energy" caregivers don't have to spare. * How isolation impacts mental and physical health. * Practical, doable ways to reconnect when you're drained. * Gentle scripts to reach out without guilt. If you've ever felt invisible in your caregiving role, this episode is for you. You are not alone — and your friendships don't have to disappear forever