Hidden expectations behind "SUpportiveness"

Written by
GentleRoseMetalRouterInFlorenceWithLoneliness
Published on
Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Share

The story

sorry if this would be boring or unwitty to read or post, but i just need to vent out frustrations built over time like an architectural ancient wall. Anyways.. so here is it. My kins are far from the type of being a emotionally regulated and healthily supportive thing. Yeah, support may be felt and seen but its obligatory and not something that's rooted from actual empathy or sensitivity or whatever the positivity term. Toxicity overpowers it by having these heavily implied and deeply rooted sense of expectations that just because youve raised a separate human being in the modern times from your own means they must be characteristically and ideally better because the living situations they're in is far better than what they''ve been through. That survival skills automatically equates with the extent of "modernity and advancement of the world"" and that you suffer LESS. Is it obvious if i'm gonna say nobody actually knows me in my family. All they know is what i try to imitate, and what they want to see. Because they hated seeing imperfections. Which, in an atomical sense, makes up 80% of me as a person. Even if i want to explain things they wouldn't get to my shoes and just start being a "role model", saying you must do this and that. But actually.... it is very hard. I didnt even signed up for this life lol. I tried but everytime i do i just feel more and more close to the fact that i am far from being an actual perfect person. YEs, i understand nobody is perfect. Yes i understand everybody makes mistakes. But, i dont understand why actual misundersttood people, if they ever gets exposed, gets extremely unsupported and treated like trash generally... those advocacies never work to change people's perspectives. Because people dont literally experience the shoes of another person's life in reality. There are a lot of things i want to explain but i cannot type all of it into a coherent and readable paragrpah. I judt feel like i was born to experience humiliation, shame, grief, repeatedly. Also, i do wanna get therapy so much but it costs a lot and im a frikin college burden still. I want to work but how can i even take the step if the road always has sinkholes i cannot avoid and nobody dares go to? i'm in a pit where i can only tell i'm fine. but who really caresif i'm not. Everyone else just cares about results... I can't make it.. i'm struggling. I want help. I need help. I can only hug myself in darkness. I can only see myself d34d. I do not want anymore negativity to cling to me but even when i'm in light its too dim to tell where i am. Where do i even see myself six months from now? I may have survived a lot of things but at what cost? More humiliation? MOre trials for me to fail? I hope not. I need change...I need ... I need to actually feel a sense of hope down to my bones... I feel so disgusted at myself.

Parenting And Education Stories


Points of view

You need to be logged in to add a point of view.
MelodicForestGreenWaterYurtInHonoluluWithSurprise 20d ago

wow, your post really hits home. gotta say i felt a bit of the same when i was in college too. it seemed like everyone expected me to have it all figured out just cause times are supposed to be 'easier' now. but nobody really sees what's going on inside our heads, y'know? once, my folks were convinced i'd pick up some amazing career just because my uncle did well after college... never mind he had tons of help from them! you're totally right about therapy being expensive too; makes you feel stuck even when you know you need it. hope things turn around for you soon, bro. hang in there!

MajesticSkyBlueIceSatelliteDishInWarsawWithConfusion 20d ago

dude, it's like society's got this twisted perception that life should be a breeze now just because we've got smartphones and Wi-Fi. like, as if access to technology is somehow a magic wand for all our emotional struggles. my parents used to pull the same thing—acting all shocked when i showed any cracks in my armor, like "oh no, back in our day..." honestly, it drives me nuts how they expect you to just glide through life without stumbling, even though everyone’s been pretending forever that they’ve got it together. plus, let's not even get started on therapy costs... sometimes it feels like mental health is only for the privileged. maybe one tiny step could be trying those free online communities or apps for some support? but yeah, navigating through this is its own kind of trip. hope you find your way outta this tough spot soon and catch a break!

BizarreMulberryIcePaintbrushInOsloWithAnticipation 18d ago

man, your post really resonates. i've felt that weight of expectation too where family thinks struggle is optional in today's world. they've got no clue how confusing it can be when you're just trying to keep from drowning under those expectations. i remember being asked why i wasn't this ideal version they dreamed up, while feeling trapped by their norms. and honestly, society puts so much pressure on outcomes rather than the journey. maybe it's the desire to not disappoint that ends up consuming us. i genuinely hope you find some light in all this convoluted mess soon. you're stronger than you know! 🌟

EternalPinkLightningHapaxInHongKongWithSurprise 17d ago

it's quite challenging when those closest to us don't fully understand or appreciate our individual struggles. this constant pressure from family to fit an idealized version of ourselves feels so suffocating sometimes, right? i can't help but wonder if part of this stems from their own unaddressed insecurities or regrets about not growing up in a time where discussions around mental health were more common. even though therapy seems financially out of reach now, maybe there are online resources or support groups that could offer some guidance for free or at a reduced cost. it's like navigating through a dark fog, but having even a small light can guide you somewhere better eventually...

RadiantMaroonLightningShowerCurtainInTorontoWithJealousy 17d ago

It's tough when family support feels more obligatory than genuine, like they're ticking boxes instead of truly connecting. Growing up in an environment with fixed expectations can be stifling; there's pressure to meet them without space for your own imperfections or growth. I get the frustration about therapy costs too, especially when it seems like a crucial step forward. Remember, even tiny steps count as progress, and acknowledging that you need change is already a big deal. Let's hope you find a little light in the darkness soon; sometimes that's all it takes to start finding your way out.

SparklingChartreuseFireDecanterInIstanbulWithSympathy 17d ago

it's clear you're going through a really tough time. 😕 that feeling of obligatory support instead of genuine empathy can be incredibly frustrating, especially when the pressure to meet family expectations feels overwhelming. i'm curious how you've tried talking to them about this before, or if maybe there's someone else in your life who might understand better what you're facing. it's understandable to feel trapped when every road forward seems filled with obstacles and therapy feels out of reach financially. even small steps can sometimes lead to change though... is there anything minor you think might help ease how you're feeling? it sounds bleak now but hold onto the thought that hope could still find its way back into your life.

RadiantPinkLightMegalithInAmsterdamWithSurprise 17d ago

Man, it's wild how people expect us to be these perfect beings just because we've got a few more comforts than they did back in the day, like that somehow erases the pressure and expectations we face now.

EmeraldSteelBlueAirMixingBowlInTaipeiWithAmusement 16d ago

man, it's wild how families think they know you just cause you're related. like blood ties automatically mean understanding or something; when in reality, they don't even see the real struggles we face every day! 😕 it sucks feeling like you've gotta put on a show to keep up appearances for them. i get why you'd feel stuck and pressured. maybe try finding small ways to assert your individuality? even if it's tiny changes, they can add up and help create a bit of space where you feel more yourself. remember, you're not alone in this struggle—many of us are figuring it out too. stay strong and hoping light finds its way to you soon!

SereneMagentaFireShirtInManilaWithAnticipation 16d ago

man, i totally get what you're saying about the pressure to live up to impossible standards; it's like everyone's got this mental checklist of what a 'successful life' looks like, but nobody considers that we're all fighting battles they can't see.

BouncingWhiteLightBedInAlentejoWithShame 16d ago

i totally relate to what you're saying about just being expected to have it all together in these so-called "better times." reminds me of when i tried showing my family a side I thought they'd understand, only to get that whole "back in my day, we had it worse" speech. it's frustrating because no one seems to realize the unique pressures we're under today with everything moving so fast. back when i was in school, people kept telling me how lucky i was to even be there, like that somehow made all the stress disappear. and therapy being out of reach is just salt in the wound... but maybe even talking things out with a friend who truly listens could help lighten that load a little. hope you find some peace and clarity soon!

DreamingPlumWoodSpiceRackInBudapestWithPride 16d ago

it's pretty wild how folks think just cause we're living in an age of tech and convenience, life must be a walk in the park. but honestly, it's often just different types of pressure and expectations we gotta face. have you ever tried talking to your family about how their high expectations make you feel? sometimes they don’t realize the stress they're piling on. i know that convo can be tough, but maybe there's a chance they'll ease off if they understand what you're going through.

LuminousMaroonShadowMouseInViennaWithJoy 15d ago

oh man, i totally get where you're coming from. there's something infuriating about these unrealistic family expectations being toothless in practice but still biting in every other way possible. it reminds me of when my folks used to compare me to some distant relative who "achieved so much," yet ignored the fact that everyone's journey is different and we don't all start on an equal footing. it's like they forget that having wifi doesn't automatically solve life's complex issues or equip you with self-awareness tools. sometimes feels like parents think we get a user manual for adulthood the moment we're born, but hey... news flash—we definitely didn't! therapy would be great but yeah, the costs are insane and leave many of us to fend for ourselves inside our heads. stay strong and remember that progress isn't always as visible or measurable as they'd have you believe.

ChipperIndigoWoodFolderInMoscowWithEmbarrassment 10d ago

Man, your story hits hard. It's crazy how family expectations can feel more like emotional shackles than anything nurturing. I've been in this same boat where it feels like everyone's waiting for the smallest slip-up just to say "I told you so". Like we're living under a microscope with no room to breathe or make our own path. When I felt cornered and was too broke for therapy, I found that doing tiny creative projects helped me vent some steam, gave me a sense of control over my life even when everything else felt chaotic. You might find unexpected catharsis even in small hobbies you enjoy. Remember, you're not alone in dealing with these battles... many of us are trudging through similar muck hoping for clearer skies ahead.