Episode 129: The hidden cost of holding it all together. Why being a strong woman is exhausting
Sun Feb 08 2026
Permission to Shine Episode 129: The hidden cost of holding it all together. Why being a strong woman is exhausting
So many high achieving women are praised for being dependable, responsible, and the one who always holds everything together. But what if those very traits are quietly costing you your peace, your intimacy, and your capacity to receive support.
In this episode, I explore the silent burden strong women carry and why being the reliable one is often rooted in survival rather than strength. I share what I’ve witnessed again and again in my work with women, including inside She Rises, where room after room fills with women who learned early in life that if they didn’t take control, no one else would.
We unpack how micromanaging, over functioning, and emotional self containment are trauma responses developed in childhood when safety was inconsistent. These patterns may have helped you survive, but they also build invisible walls that stop love, support, and true connection from reaching you.
This episode is an invitation to soften without collapsing, to release control without losing power, and to understand that receiving is not weakness but leadership.
In this episode, we explore:
Why being the strong one becomes a survival identityHow childhood experiences shape control and over responsibilityWhy high achieving women struggle to receive love and supportHow emotional armour creates isolation even in successful livesWhat actually happens when you stop holding everything togetherThe path from self abandonment to inner safety and embodied powerI also share my own journey out of this pattern and why this work now sits at the heart of everything I do. If you’ve ever felt like you are carrying the weight of everyone else’s world while quietly disappearing from your own, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.
Unforgettable: https://sherissebisram.com/unforgettable-an-embodied-leadership-visibility-experience
She Rises: https://sherissebisram.com/she-rises-experience
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherisse_bisram?igsh=MWdlODl4d2Z1eG50bg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
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Permission to Shine Episode 129: The hidden cost of holding it all together. Why being a strong woman is exhausting So many high achieving women are praised for being dependable, responsible, and the one who always holds everything together. But what if those very traits are quietly costing you your peace, your intimacy, and your capacity to receive support. In this episode, I explore the silent burden strong women carry and why being the reliable one is often rooted in survival rather than strength. I share what I’ve witnessed again and again in my work with women, including inside She Rises, where room after room fills with women who learned early in life that if they didn’t take control, no one else would. We unpack how micromanaging, over functioning, and emotional self containment are trauma responses developed in childhood when safety was inconsistent. These patterns may have helped you survive, but they also build invisible walls that stop love, support, and true connection from reaching you. This episode is an invitation to soften without collapsing, to release control without losing power, and to understand that receiving is not weakness but leadership. In this episode, we explore: Why being the strong one becomes a survival identityHow childhood experiences shape control and over responsibilityWhy high achieving women struggle to receive love and supportHow emotional armour creates isolation even in successful livesWhat actually happens when you stop holding everything togetherThe path from self abandonment to inner safety and embodied powerI also share my own journey out of this pattern and why this work now sits at the heart of everything I do. If you’ve ever felt like you are carrying the weight of everyone else’s world while quietly disappearing from your own, this episode will meet you exactly where you are. Unforgettable: https://sherissebisram.com/unforgettable-an-embodied-leadership-visibility-experience She Rises: https://sherissebisram.com/she-rises-experience Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherisse_bisram?igsh=MWdlODl4d2Z1eG50bg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr