"My Therapist's Probably Gonna Be Mad I'm Posting This… But Here We Are."

Maybe I'll regret posting this later. Maybe my therapist will roll her eyes and say, "We should've unpacked this in session." But honestly? I don't care. This needs to come out raw, unfiltered, and straight from the heart.

I'm tired.

Really tired.

Tired of being misunderstood.

Tired of every honest conversation turning into a fight.

Tired of sharing my perspective only to be told I'm "Imposing" or "arguing" when I'm just... speaking.

Why is it that when a woman holds her ground in a conversation, suddenly she's the villain? When did "having an opinion" become synonymous with being combative?

We can't both be grown adults sharing different views without it becoming a war? Really?

And let's talk about it especially when it comes to men.

Being a strong, opinionated woman is exhausting. Not because being strong is hard but because the world doesn't know what to do with us. They want soft, agreeable, quiet. They want polite nods and gentle smiles. The moment we push back, challenge, question, we become "too much."

Too loud.

Too intense.

Too sensitive.

Too masculine.

Too everything except accepted.

I could joke around, tease a little, keep things light and they'd take it personally. But when they do the same, I'm expected to laugh it off and "not be so sensitive." But let me mirror the same energy back? Now I'm dramatic. I need to calm down. I need to "relax."

The double standard is exhausting.

And the most frustrating part? I genuinely want a connection. I want to be understood, not analyzed. I want to be seen, not corrected. I want safe spaces where I can express my feelings without being reduced to "too emotional" or "too aggressive."

I'm not trying to argue. I'm trying to exist authentically.

I don't want to shrink to make others comfortable. I don't want to silence myself just to be liked. And I definitely don't want to be in romantic, platonic, or otherwise relationships where I have to water myself down just to keep the peace.

So yeah, if that makes me "the problem," then I guess I'll be the problem.

Because I know who I am.

And I'm not ashamed of her.

My therapist may suggest I process this quietly and journal it out, but today, I needed to speak it aloud. And if you're reading this, does it hit home?

Just know you're not crazy.

You're not too much.

You're not alone.

You're just enough for the right people.