When You Reach Your Breaking Point

I’ve always been told that I lack a proper sense of pain — both physically and emotionally. Some call me emotionally distant, but the truth is, I just don’t understand the emotions people expect from me. I never really know what they want me to feel, so I’ve learned to adapt — to blend in wherever I am, even when I don’t fully understand what others feel. But when someone like that — someone who rarely breaks — finally does, it means they’ve reached their limit. Previously, I broke down for the first time in a long while. You’d think it was over something terrible, something tragic or life-changing. But no, it wasn’t. I broke down because I was stretched too thin. Because I had too many responsibilities piled up for a seventeen-year-old. Because I was exhausted — not from one big thing, but from everything small that kept adding up. It started when I took up a position I genuinely believed I could handle. I accepted it because I thought I was the best fit — and honestly, I could do it. But that confidence became a trap. Others started relying on me too, believing I could handle more, and out of a sense of responsibility, I couldn’t say no. At first, it felt like trust. But soon, it became weight. My role as assistant was meant to support the captain, yet when the captain ignored their duties, everything automatically shifted to me. One task after another. Until eventually, it broke me down. Yesterday, I went to my supervisor’s office to resign from the position. I wanted to step down quietly, but the moment I walked in, surrounded by that calm, familiar space, everything I’d been holding inside just… spilled out. I cried. Not the silent kind — but the kind where you can’t even form words. My supervisor stopped everything and came to hold me. She listened, comforted, and spoke to me with so much warmth that I didn’t even realize how much I’d missed that kind of care. It had been so long since anyone — aside from my parents — had seen me cry. At that moment, I wanted to hug my mother, but she was miles away, working hard to keep me in school. My parents have always worked so hard, and I’ve always tried to do the same — to give them the least trouble possible. But even with good intentions, the body and mind have limits. When I finally found my voice again and told her everything, my supervisor gave me advice that lifted the world off my shoulders. She said: “You took up that responsibility because you knew you could handle it — but remember, you didn’t take it up alone. You are strong, and it shows. But your job is to do your part and leave the rest for others. You came here to study, and that should always come first. Do your part, and let others do theirs.” I’d heard similar advice before, but hearing it from her — the very person who trusted me with that position — made all the difference. Since then, my days have been calmer. I didn’t manage to let go of the position completely, but I’ve grown stronger through it. I’ve learned, and I’ve changed. I thank God for the good people in my life, and for the way I was raised. No matter how others see me — whether they think I’m too strict, too cold, or too blunt — I’ve learned that I don’t need to prove myself to everyone. The people who deserve to see the real me will see it. And one more thing I realized: I never signed up to be anyone’s servant or emotional sponge. I agreed to be second in command — to step in when necessary, not to carry everything when others fall short. To everyone who carries heavy responsibilities — please, know your limits. Know where your duties end, and where self-preservation begins. Because some people don’t know when to stop pulling a string — they’ll keep stretching it until it snaps. If you’re that string, find a way to loosen their grip before it’s too late. And if you can’t… I pray that God grants you the strength to endure.<h3> 🌿 If You Related to This Post</h3> Here are a few ebooks that have helped me understand resilience, balance, and emotional growth — you can explore them too:“The Mountain Is You” by Brianna Wiest – about turning self-sabotage into strength.“Set Boundaries, Find Peace” by Nedra Glover Tawwab – perfect for learning when and how to say no.<a class="external-link" href="https://deepakchopra.medium.com/when-youve-reached-your-breaking-point-d0b560a6f5a8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"When You've Reached Your Breaking Point" by Deepak Chopra, MD</a> <a class="external-link" href="http://selar.com/296857?affiliate=e5w2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">From Struggle To Strength: My Journey Overcoming Mental Illness and Finding Resilience.</a><a class="external-link" href="http://selar.com/9r3k?affiliate=l7rr" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Self-Improvement Handbook</a><a class="external-link" href="http://selar.com/3b7gb6?affiliate=b7oq" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Setting Boundaries</a>You can find most of them on Amazon Kindle or at <a class="external-link" href="https://litchainco.name.ng/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LitChain Co.</a>, where you can get varieties of ebooks.

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