Never ending stress
So I am about to turn 30 and I feel like I’ve been reflecting on myself lately a lot and realizing how unhappy I am with my life. I am a mom of a 10-year-old, I have an almost 40 year-old boyfriend who has a 14-year-old son. I love them more than anything and I am happy that they are my family. But I feel like I like I have lost my individuality. I don’t know who I am outside being a mom and taking care of the house and working full-time. I used to be an avid reader and I have been struggling for over two years now to pick up a book. I have a series that I used to be a reread over and over again every time I got into a slump and now I can’t even use that to gain back my love for reading. When I have a day off because I need a break, I don’t know what to do with myself so all I do is clean and I feel like that’s not a good way to get my rest that I need. When my daughter is away spending the night somewhere and my boyfriend‘s son is gone and I have time to myself. I don’t know what to do. I feel like I’m frozen waiting for them to come home. I try to do things and I just get so much anxiety over it. I am truly sick of feeling this way all the time. I don’t know if I’m hitting some sort of crisis in my life of not knowing who I am anymore because I truly don’t know anymore. My days consist of waking up early in the morning, getting my dogs fed, my kids around for school, getting them on the bus, going to work, coming home, making dinner, getting their clothes and lunches for the next day, going to bed and waking up doing it all over again. My weekends don’t even consist of any rest, My boyfriend doesn’t want to sit around the house and do nothing. He likes to go out and see people and I’m stuck following along. I got pregnant young and have no friends. All I truly have is my boyfriend to talk to all day every day. My family isn’t very supportive of me and I don’t talk to them usually nor would I go to them for anything like this. I feel like a burden to my boyfriend because I’m always telling him how I feel and how unhappy I am, and how lonely I am.
If anybody knows what to do or has any advice, I would be very appreciative.
@HardworkingAries45
🙏🏻
You deserve to feel like yourself again 🫂
It sounds like you have been going through a lot for a long time—taking care of your family, working, and managing everything every day. It’s understandable that, over time, you have started to feel disconnected from yourself. Anyone in your situation might feel lost, exhausted, and find it difficult to understand who they are outside of their responsibilities.
A few gentle steps can help you reconnect with yourself:
Start very small: Instead of trying to “find yourself” all at once, try taking 10–15 minutes just for yourself. Use this time to sit, rest, or do something that feels light and comforting.
Reconnect gently with old interests: If reading feels hard, try just one page or even a few lines during your “me time.” The goal is not to enjoy it immediately, but to slowly rebuild the connection.
Redefine rest: Cleaning is productive, but rest doesn’t have to be. Allow yourself time where you are not doing anything for others—just resting or doing something small that brings you peace.
Create small moments of joy: Simple things like eating your favorite food, watching something you enjoy, or doing a small activity for yourself can help you reconnect with who you are.
Communicate your needs simply: Instead of sharing everything at once with him, try expressing small needs, like asking him to spend time with you at home once in a while.
What you are feeling is not a failure—it’s a sign that you have been giving so much to others that your own needs have been left behind. That part of you is asking for your attention and care. With small, consistent steps, you can slowly reconnect with yourself again.
You are not a burden—you deserve care too. There is no pressure to figure everything out at once. Move at your own pace.
Sending you care, support, and gentle strength 🪄✨🫂💕
Thank you for that. I just feel stuck, like my body is refusing to help me. I hope the weather changes to warm and sunny soon, then maybe I will feel a little better.
I think working a lot just makes it hard to find the time to take a break.