I’m Tired of Feeling This Way: The Myth of “I Should Be Able to Handle This”
If you’ve ever told yourself, “I should be able to handle this… I’m strong, I’m smart, it’s not that bad,” let me just pause and say: you’re not alone.
If there were a slogan printed across our foreheads, this would probably be it.
What “handling it” usually looks like
Let’s be real. Most of the time, “handling it” means…
Holding in your frustration all day, then snapping at the people you love.
Lying in bed, exhausted, but your brain insists on replaying that one awkward comment you made at 2pm.
Saying yes when you want to say no, because you don’t want to let anyone down.
Crying in your car hoping it will be enough to get by
This isn’t weakness. It’s just your body and brain waving the “hey, we can’t keep doing it like this” flag.
Why we push through anyway
We’re pros at talking ourselves out of help:
Other people have it worse.
I just need to be more disciplined.
If I slow down, everything will fall apart.
Sound familiar? Yeah, me too.
So… what do you actually do when you’re “tired of feeling this way”?
Here are a few small shifts that can help:
✨ Catch the script. When you hear yourself saying: “I should be able to handle this,” stop and ask: But at what cost? Strength isn’t about pushing through—it’s about knowing when to put something down.
✨ Zoom out. Ask yourself: If Future Me looked back at today, what would she want me to remember? Chances are, she doesn’t care about the laundry pile but she would care if you ran yourself into the ground.
✨ Experiment with rest, not just collapse. There’s a difference between numbing out on the couch (because you can’t move anymore) and actually resting (a walk, journaling, listening to music). Try one thing that feels like nourishment, not escape. We have to learn the difference and learn to live by new standards!
✨ Phone a friend (or reach out to a therapist). Seriously. There aren’t bonus points for doing it all alone.
The bottom line
That quiet thought—“I’m tired of feeling this way”—isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom. It’s your mind and body saying: let’s try a different way.
And the truth? You don’t have to prove how strong you are by suffering silently. Real strength is letting yourself get the support, tools, and space you’ve needed all along.
👉 So next time your brain says “I should be able to handle this,” try swapping it for: “It’s not necessary to handle this all by myself.”
If connecting with a therapist who cares deeply about your success feels like the right option for you now- I’d love to help! Message me about my free consultation and let’s talk soon!!
Relief is only a few sessions away :)