Boundaries Over Burnout

Ever since I was a little girl, I can remember that I have always been a caregiver. I was the girl that was, "a pleasure to have in class" & "so polite and helpful". I always helped clean up loved one's messes, even though it was never my responsibility. As an adult, I struggled asking for help because I didn't want to be a burden to anyone and would just drown in my own issues. No one ever asked if I was okay. If I needed help. I was taught that I was supposed to make everything look perfect on the outside, even though they weren't. When I finally started holding people accountable for things, I was labeled as selfish and mean. I lost a lot of people in my life that I thought would want me to be whole, however, I learned the hard way that they were just in it for themselves. Once I was no longer willing to sacrifice time, money, or sanity, I was no longer needed. It has been a hard couple of years, however, I know that putting my foot down about having boundaries and prioritizing my mental health is going to be the best thing I have done for myself. Cheers to new beginnings!