To the men reading this with some recognition: if you have been trained by society to see your own self worth as being only about what you can sacrifice of yourself for others, it’s possible to change that. It’s a slow, gradual, and difficult process, but you can learn to surround yourself with people who value you for who you are, to allow yourself to be vulnerable enough to accept that appreciation, to view yourself as innately worthy of love and attention, and to set healthy boundaries which protect your mental/emotional resources without isolating you from others. If you find yourself agreeing with this post, you’re not alone, but the path out is not to blame women. The patriarchy did this to you and the healing process will involve a lot of introspection and taking responsibility for things that are not necessarily your fault. That kind of self-determination is well worth it