Excuses v. Reasons

I’ve been thinking a lot about a “victim mentality,” and I feel like I have definitely started “playing the victim” more in my mid twenties. I guess this is because I realized that I could. Therapy and my family have changed me in a good way, but sometimes I feel like I’m less strong than I was at 16. Is this a result of being “coddled”?

I have more empathy for myself now, but certain people around me paint making excuses for yourself to be a negative. And, it is true, one should never make excuses for themselves. But I’m struggling to find the line between excuses and reasons.

Let me know if you have any ideas about this.