The exhaustion did not come from my friends or anyone else for that matter. It came from the fact that I was so busy feeling other people's emotions, that I quickly dismissed any I felt for myself. I was labeled as the "friend therapist" the "go-to"; likewise, empaths are labeled as "sensitive". I would never label myself as sensitive. I believe I am a strong woman, a strong woman who cares a lot. I cared so much for everyone around me that I forgot to care about myself. I pushed my emptions and needs to the side because I wanted to take care of other people.

I did not make time to check in mentally with myself. It has taken me the past year to take my personal mental health seriously, when I made sure others were aware to check on theirs. So how could I be so blind to the downward spiral of my own emotions? Was I so self unaware that I would turn a blind eye to things I began to notice within myself? The only reason I can come up with is that I cared so much for others, I would put my own emotions at risk to attend to them.