We all care. We care when we see someone we love crying and it breaks us inside. We care when we hear about stories of tragedies and pain. We sometimes even care when we say the words “I don’t care,” pretending as if we are immune to others’ words or actions. The truth about caring, though? It can hurt like hell. Even though you’ll have some of the purest intentions, there are issues with caring that can cause you to seriously reevaluate why you ever cared so much in the first place.

1. The other person just may not care as much. So while you’re out there, formulating your thesis and 5 paragraph essay on why they should love you just as much as you love them, they’re thinking of what they should eat for lunch.
2. You’ll overthink almost everything. Someone could not text you back because they’re taking a nap but you’ll be convinced that they’re done with you, or annoyed at what you sent them, and looking to buy the next cheapest flight to “Get Away From Me.”
3. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Unless you care a lot, and let’s be real- we’ve all been hurt by words before. The struggle with caring too much is getting hurt by a rude comment or a joke that may have gone a little too far. Of course, we may not always admit that it bothered us, but that doesn't mean we don't get hurt.
4. When someone tells you that you’re too caring and you try to tell them that you’re actually cold-hearted because somehow caring started getting associated with weakness. You usually just end up looking defensive though.
5. People disappoint. People can use you, break your trust, take advantage of the care you give. You can give something your all and get nothing back in return, or go into something with a hopeful smile and end up with a broken heart.
6. But truth be told, caring too much isn't truly a bad thing. Because it's care that puts together the broken shards of humanity. It's care that lets you hold someone's hand, and tell them that it's going to be okay. It's care that lets you feel such strong emotions. And it's care that makes you beautiful, and allows you to see the beauty in everyone else. So be happy that you care so much about something or someone, and have someone that cares so much about you. Because the world would be a lonely place without it.