Who is it really tough on?
I think it’s tougher on the punisher. If it wasn’t it would be called sadistic.
Tough love feels counter intuitive.
‘So I’m supposed to help them by being mean to them?’
I think tough love must be one of the highest forms of caring. It shows how committed you are to helping someone.
You are so intent on protecting someone from a truck load of long term agony that you inflict a thimble of short term pain to ensure it.
Thomas Duggan 