Putting your mental health first is hard when others rely so much on you. You think to yourself, My job is meaningful, and I have an essential role in ensuring things run smoothly. I am a singular puzzle piece that holds the rest together. With me, the entire image is complete. They need me. Although this statement is true to some degree, there are other lessons life is trying to teach us. Life is not about pretty puzzles. The image we are all trying to complete is constantly changing, and there are no directions for achieving it. The process is not linear; it's messy and chaotic because only some pieces will fit together immediately. Everything continually adjusts itself in the end. Removing yourself from the puzzle allows for new images to be completed. So no matter how often you have to remove yourself, there will always be a place you will complete. The next time you think about taking a step back or removing yourself from a difficult situation, remind ...
I hope that you find comfort and peace to keep living your life. We are all in this together.