Coping with stress can feel like second nature when you’re used to performing under pressure. You’re the one people rely on—at work, at home, in the spaces where things need to get done. You stay late when others clock off. You notice the details no one else sees and you take responsibility. But lately, something has shifted.
Everything feels heavier. The demands keep piling up, and rest never quite seems to replenish you. You might be pushing through the motions, but beneath the surface, there’s a feeling that you’re close to cracking. This isn’t just tiredness. It’s the kind of exhaustion that no amount of sleep seems to fix. When you’re coping with stress on this level, the usual strategies—coffee, multitasking, ignoring it—simply stop working.
What makes this even harder is the quiet nature of it. Stress doesn’t always come in a dramatic burst. Sometimes, it creeps in subtly. You might notice you’re waking up in the early hours, mind racing with tasks and worries. Maybe you feel irritable with people you care about, or you’ve stopped looking forward to things you once enjoyed. Your body may feel tense all the time—shoulders drawn up, jaw clenched, chest tight. These aren’t signs that you’re weak or failing. They’re signs that you’ve been carrying more than any one person should.
Coping with stress when you’re always the strong one
The first thing to do, even if it feels counterintuitive, is to pause. Not for long. Even a few minutes of stillness can shift something inside you. Step away from your desk. Put down your phone. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath and ask yourself: what do I need right now? Not what needs to be done, or who needs you—but you. Often the answer is something simple: a real meal, a stretch, a break from the noise, or just permission to stop.
When you feel pushed to your limits, one of the most powerful things you can do is name what’s really happening. Not just the workload, but the emotional weight beneath it. You might write it down or speak it aloud. “I feel like I’m failing.” “I don’t know how to switch off.” “I’m scared something will fall apart if I rest.” There’s no shame in these thoughts. They’re incredibly common, especially among those who are capable and conscientious. But they become less overwhelming once you acknowledge them.
A common thread for people who find themselves chronically stressed is the belief that everything must be done perfectly. That nothing can be dropped. That rest is earned only after complete exhaustion. But perfectionism is a trap. It keeps the pressure high and the rest just out of reach. Letting go of it doesn’t mean lowering your standards. It means giving yourself permission to be human. You are allowed to do things well without doing them flawlessly. You are allowed to rest even if your to-do list isn’t finished.
A gentler way forward
Another helpful shift comes when you begin to create space for yourself—through boundaries. That might mean leaving work at a reasonable time, turning off notifications in the evening, or saying no to one more commitment. You don’t need to be available to everyone at all times. Boundaries aren’t selfish. They are how we protect our energy, our peace, and our capacity to keep showing up in the long term.
If you’re coping with stress and feel close to the edge, you don’t have to wait until things fall apart before you reach out. Therapy can offer more than crisis support. It can be a space to explore how you got here, what you truly need, and how to find your way back to balance. Sometimes, just saying things out loud to someone who understands can ease the weight.
Being pushed to your limits doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’ve been carrying too much for too long—and that it’s time to treat yourself with the same compassion and care you offer others. Coping with stress isn’t about becoming even stronger. It’s about learning to stop, soften, and breathe before you break.
You’re not alone in this. And you don’t have to keep going at full speed to prove your worth. There is another way. One where you are allowed to rest, allowed to need support, and allowed to put yourself first—at least for a while.
If you’d like to explore what working together might look like, I offer a free, no-pressure consultation.
Whenever you’re ready, I’m here. You’re also welcome to download my free guide, Is Therapy Right for Me?, for a reflective place to start.