With gradual (by which I mean over a long period of time) discomfort, unhappiness or stress, it is hard to know when exactly you come to the end of your tolerance.
A smack in the face immediately sends home the message that it is an intolerable situation and more often than not, the defensive reflexes take over and you either defend yourself with a smack back or you get yourself out of the place where you might get more.
After fourteen months, 24/7, I have reached my limit of tolerance and I am sorry to say that I am handing the job over to professionals now, although it will always bother me that I might have continued a little longer.
It’s hard to know when to say, ‘ouch!’