You’ve always been known for your resilience. When others need emotional support, you’re there carrying all the weight of their problems. At times, it seems like you have a strength that other human beings lack. And when chaos arises, you’re able to remain calm and collected.
Being the strong one has its benefits. It’s rooted in basic survival. In order to get things done, you can stay focused and seemingly suppress your emotions.
But the hidden costs of being strong can be detrimental. Hiding from your feelings, taking care of others, and not allowing yourself time to rest hurt both your present and future self.
Signs You’re ‘The Strong One’
Strong people are often labeled as ‘being strong’ at a young age. Others may have outwardly admired you for your ability to cope with stress or deal with challenging situations.
However, some people come into this strength after certain experiences. For example, if you endured trauma and nobody was there to really support you, you may have developed this identity as a way to cope with what happened to you. In other cases, people might be strong due to underlying perfectionism or control issues.
You Tend to Function Well Despite Stress
Strong people appear to cope well with adversity. With that, you likely stay on top of your daily tasks, continue going to work, and take care of your family. Some may even look at all that you do and make comments like, I don’t know how you do it!
With that, it’s a misconception that stress doesn’t faze strong people. They often feel quite stressed, but they don’t always allow themselves the emotional space to rest.
You Can Compartmentalize Your Feelings
Even if you identify with feeling tired, sad, or lonely, you may automatically compartmentalize these emotions to focus on other tasks.
It may seem like you move through your day unfazed by what’s actually happening to you. And some people actually hyperfunction when they’re going through tough times. If this is you, you might take on even more responsibility as a way of coping with stress.
You Don’t Open Up to Others
Strong people often present as “put-together” to the outside world. In some cases, they also seem guarded or withdrawn.
When others notice this trait, they may feel embarrassed about their own emotional state. They might even express jealousy for your ability to cope with stress. Deep down, though, you might feel like a hypocrite or fraud. While you might be skilled in supporting others, you don’t know how to let them in.
You Feel Guilty When You Feel Weak
When a strong person is vulnerable with others, they may feel ashamed or guilty about how they feel. Even if you know it’s irrational, you might associate feeling emotional with feeling weak, and that may seem threatening.
A “strong man” is often praised for remaining stoic or calm even when life is undoubtedly stressful. He may not cry despite feeling sad. And when others ask how he’s doing, he often responds that things are fine. It’s important to note that a strong woman is also often celebrated for having stereotypically masculine traits.
You Dismiss Your Trauma or Hardships
Strong people often discount or intellectualize their past experiences. If this is true for you, you might try to convince yourself that you’re okay. You may also compare yourself to others as a way of reminding yourself that things weren’t that bad.
Strong people generally think they’re supposed to handle all situations with ease. They also sometimes believe they need to be universally optimistic. From this perspective, it can be hard to accept your emotions or even put them into concrete words.
You Sometimes Feel Numb or Dissociated
Maybe it feels like you’re just going through the motions in life. You might not feel many emotions because you’re in a state of numbness. You’re just trying to focus on doing the next right thing.
Dissociation refers to feeling disconnected from your body or surroundings. You might notice that you even “blank out” when talking to certain family or friends. Dissociation is a survival tactic meant to keep you safe from intense emotional experiences. But if it’s something you frequently experience, you miss the joys of truly living in the present moment.
Hidden Costs of Staying Strong At All Times
There are many benefits to trying to stay strong in all situations. You might build a reputation for being a good friend, parent, or employee. You might also be able to function well despite your emotional state, and this can be productive for making money, having a stable life, and keeping a sense of peace within your relationships.
But there are costs associated with being dishonest with yourself or putting your own needs on the back burner. Strong people can go many years before realizing they’re struggling. But many of them reach a breaking point, and when that time occurs, it can feel unnerving and scary.
Here are some of the downsides of being the strong one:
You May Not Allow Yourself to Fully Grieve
The desire to be strong is a common reaction to grief and loss. Instead of being with your feelings, you experience this internal pressure to handle stress productively. You might also want to maintain your mental capacity to better be there for others.
But the truth is that grief is a complex constellation of emotions. You can’t expect yourself to cope with it “perfectly” because there is no way to actually cope with pain perfectly.
You Miss Emotional Intimacy
True connection requires a level of vulnerability. But if you’re unable to be your authentic self and show your emotions to others, your relationships might feel surface-level.
Or, you run the risk of having imbalanced relationships. Other people are intimate and connected to you, but you feel distant and withdrawn. This lopsided effect can feel uncomfortable, and it might even make you feel worse when you spend time socializing.
You Can Burn Out
Being strong all the time feels exhausting. And at some point, you may realize that you’re completely drained. When this happens, it’s hard to be empathic toward others, and it’s also difficult to really take care of yourself.
Burnout can take many forms, but it may look like:
- worsening depression symptoms
- avoiding or procrastinating certain tasks
- feeling chronically exhausted
- having sleep problems
- appetite fluctuations
- intrusive thoughts about ‘running away’ or lashing out at others
- maladaptive daydreaming
- empathy fatigue
You Might Act Out in Other Self-Destructive Ways
In an effort to be strong for others, you might subconsciously take your exhaustion and pain out on yourself. After all, feelings don’t disappear just because you’re avoiding them.
In fact, many strong men and women struggle with issues like substance use, disordered eating, compulsive shopping, or depression, and their “strength” often acts as a trigger to maintain problematic cycles.
You May Get Resentful Toward Other People
Even though strong people often present as emotionally stable, they can experience significant interpersonal distress. If you frequently carry the mental load for others, you might already notice this effect.
The truth is that everyone needs space for their own needs. Likewise, relationships should feel reciprocal. It’s tough when you’re containing everyone else’s emotions, but there’s nowhere to safely displace your own.
Therapy for Strong People (Who Need Support)
True strength isn’t about the absence of struggle or emotions. Instead, strength can be defined as having the courage to be yourself, no matter what you’re feeling. This means
Of course, change can be hard, especially if you’ve been trapped in a strong role for a long time. Maybe you’re tired of this pattern, but you don’t quite know how to change it. Or you’re afraid that others will reject you if you ask for help or support. Maybe you don’t want to be a burden to anyone.
Regardless of your unique circumstances, I am here to support you. Every moment offers a new chance for emotional healing and authentic living. Learning how truly be with your feelings can give you a sense of freedom you’ve never known.
It’s brave to decide you don’t want to be strong all the time. No matter where you are on your growth journey, I would be honored to support you. Contact me today to schedule a consultation.