08/09/2024
I am tired...
Ana sat at her desk, her eyes glued to the screen, but her mind was a thousand miles away. Every day felt heavier than the last, and when her friend asked how she was doing, she gave the usual answer, “I’m just tired.” Her friend smiled sympathetically, assuming it was just another long day. But the truth was, Ana’s exhaustion had little to do with sleep.
Behind her words, there was so much more overwhelming stress, the weight of feeling unseen, and battles she couldn’t put into words. Ana was mentally exhausted, emotionally drained, and carrying burdens no one knew about. Yet, like many of us, she masked it with the simplest phrase: “I’m tired.”
How often have we said the same, when we’re really aching on the inside? When “I’m tired” becomes a code for “I don’t have the energy to explain the storm in my mind”?
We live in a world where so many people, like Ana, hide their struggles behind smiles, polite nods, and quiet reassurances. They don’t open up, not because they don’t want to, but because it feels safer to keep the pain inside. Maybe it’s fear of being judged, or maybe they don’t want to be a burden. So, “I’m tired” becomes the shield they carry around.
But this quiet suffering doesn’t have to be faced alone. And if you’re reading this, you probably know someone like Ana, someone who says they’re tired, but you can feel there’s more.
Here are a few ways to help those silently struggling:
Be a safe space
Listen without interrupting
Check in regularly
Offer support without waiting for them to ask
Be patient, don’t push
Validate their feelings
Respect their boundaries
Offer to spend quiet time together
Send thoughtful messages to show you care
Encourage them to engage in self-care
Avoid giving unsolicited advice
Reassure them that it’s okay to feel what they feel
Be consistent in your presence, not just during crisis moments
Celebrate small wins with them
Remind them they are not alone
Sometimes, it’s the simplest things, being present, being kind or just being there that can make a world of difference. So, the next time someone tells you they’re tired, look a little closer. You might be the person they didn’t know they needed.