There's a kind of exhaustion specific to people who grew up in the 1960s and 70s - not physical tiredness but the cumulative weight of having been reliable for so long, for so many people, with so little reciprocity, that they genuinely cannot remember what it felt like to be the one who was taken care of - Silicon Canals

""Caregiving often begins with love and commitment. You step in because someone you care about needs help. But over time, what started as a temporary responsibility can become physically, emotionally, and mentally overwhelming.""

""When reliability becomes your identity, people stop seeing you as a person. You become a resource, like a toolbox or a savings account.""

Generations trained to be reliable often forget how to ask for help. This mindset, instilled from childhood, equates asking for assistance with weakness. Many individuals work tirelessly, becoming the go-to person for others' needs, which can lead to emotional and physical exhaustion. Caregiving responsibilities, initially rooted in love, can become overwhelming when they persist indefinitely. Over time, those who are consistently reliable may be viewed more as resources than as individuals, losing their sense of self in the process.

Read at Silicon Canals