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This Is Not Sustainable

What It Feels Like to Carry Everything Alone

By Alicia Melnick Published 6 months ago Updated 6 months ago 1 min read
Image and writing by the author.

I am exhausted. Mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially. I take care of everything every day. There is no break. There is no backup. No one is consistently showing up for me. The person I should be able to rely on is inconsistent. I cannot depend on him for stability, support, or relief. I adjust constantly to what he does or does not do. My needs are minimized. When I speak, I am not truly heard. My inner world is not acknowledged. My concerns are dismissed or reduced to something small. I do not feel supported emotionally. I handle my feelings alone. No one is checking in on me in a meaningful way. There is no one carrying any part of this with me. I am tired from lack of sleep. I am tired of constant responsibility. I am tired of having no space to take care of myself. I do not have a support system. I do not have family I can rely on. I do not have consistent help. I am doing everything while being expected to need nothing. My financial future feels unstable. It is treated as if it does not matter. I carry the stress of it alone. I continue because I have to. I continue because my child depends on me. I continue even when I feel depleted. This is not sustainable. This is not balanced. This is not fair. I need support. I need consistency. I need to be acknowledged. I am not asking for too much. I am asking for what should already exist.

Mental HealthFree Versesad poetrysocial commentary

About the Creator

Alicia Melnick

Writer & visual artist exploring emotional truth, creativity, and the long work of breaking inherited patterns. Essays and prose exploring resilience, identity, and carrying light forward. 📜 writing | 🎨 art → @spookywhimsy

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    Written by Alicia Melnick