"When you've spent your entire life being strong for other people, nobody thinks to ask how you're doing. Because asking how you're doing was always your role, and nobody learned to do it in the other direction."
"The roles we occupy don't just describe what we do. They shape how we understand ourselves. When people build their identity around being the competent one, that identity provides enormous psychological benefits for decades."
"The first rule is that you don't ask for help. The World Health Organization notes that mental health conditions among older adults are often underrecognized and undertreated, and that stigma surrounding these conditions makes people reluctant to seek help."
Individuals who have spent their lives supporting others often face challenges when they age and their roles change. As they transition into retirement and their family dynamics shift, they may find themselves feeling isolated and unacknowledged. The identity built around being the reliable one can create a reluctance to seek help, leading to unrecognized mental health issues. The stigma surrounding mental health in older adults further complicates this situation, as those who have always been caregivers struggle to ask for support themselves.
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