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What To Do When You're Tired of Bring Strong

 Hello and Welcome Back to The Therapist Diaries, 

It’s been a couple of weeks since I last posted, and I really appreciate you sticking around and coming back to the blog. I’ll be honest, I needed a break. Since opening my private practice in the UK, life has been a whirlwind. Between juggling work, the time difference with the US, family life, and managing my Type One Diabetes, I just ran out of steam. We all know that feeling, when you’re stretched thin, and every day requires a kind of strength that never lets up and today, I wanted to write about that kind of relentless exhaustion, about what it’s like when being strong all the time starts to feel like too much.

Some days, being on top of everything feels less like a choice and more like an obligation. In my work with children and families affected by chronic illness, I see firsthand how impossible it can feel to turn off. These families live in a constant state of vigilance, where rest and reprieve aren’t luxuries, they’re rarely possibilities. The same is true for anyone carrying heavy responsibilities, whether it’s caregiving, work, or personal challenges. You learn to endure, to adapt, to carry the weight of worry as if it were your own. And over time, that weight wears on you.

It’s exhausting. It’s lonely. And yet, so often, the expectation, whether from ourselves or others, is that we keep going, keep being strong, keep holding space for everyone else. But even the strongest among us need rest. Even those who spend their days giving support and guidance need to refill their own well.

So, what can we do when responsibilities don’t pause, but our energy is running low? One of the first steps is giving yourself permission to lower the bar. You don’t have to do everything perfectly. Sometimes “good enough” really is enough, and that can be a radical act of self-compassion.

Another approach is carving out small pockets of rest, what I like to call "my mini moments.” Just  sitting quietly with a cozy drink, stretching, taking a few slow breaths, or closing your eyes for a minute. It won’t solve everything, but it gives your mind and body a tiny reset so the weight doesn’t feel quite so heavy.

Leaning on support is also key. Delegating isn’t a weakness, it’s a way to keep yourself functional and present for the things that truly require your attention. Even if you can only hand off one task, it creates space for you to breathe. And sometimes, just talking about how exhausted you feel can be a relief. Naming it aloud, whether to a friend, partner, or therapist, can lessen the isolation that comes from always feeling like you have to carry it all alone.

Lastly, reconnecting with things that replenish you, even in small doses, can make a big difference. Reading for pleasure, journaling, listening to music, or taking a short walk outside can feel indulgent when responsibilities are pressing, but these small acts of care are what sustain us. They’re not optional; they’re necessary. Over time, weaving these tiny moments into an otherwise demanding life builds a resilience that isn’t about being unbreakable, it’s about honoring your limits while still moving forward.

Strength, after all, doesn’t mean never breaking. Sometimes it means admitting that you’re tired, allowing yourself a pause, and still finding a way to keep going tomorrow. And for anyone living a life where you’re always “on,” carrying constant responsibility, I want you to know: pausing, resting, and even struggling are not signs of weakness. They are part of being human. And being human is more than enough.

I often say everyone should speak to a therapist. Not because I think there's something wrong with everyone (actually, controversially, I don't think there's anything wrong with anyone), but because your therapist isn't there to care about you, they're there to teach you better ways to care for yourself. It's like on flights when they tell you to apply your own Oxygen mask before helping others, if you're going to show up and be your best self for the ones you love, you have to take the time today to stop and care for yourself first. 

Until next time- be kind to your mind.

—The Therapist Diaries

 

For professional inquiries please visit Voyager Therapy

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