[on person, relationship, system, finances] pression the tax evasion scandal put considerable strain in the relationship between Germany and Liechtenstein tension (nerveuse)
to strain [+rope] = tendre ; [+system, resources, relations] peser sur, mettre à l'épreuve to strain a muscle = se froisser un muscle
to strain oneself = se forcer Shy people have a low Self-worth. To increase the self worth, one has to strain oneself in order to prove to oneself that one is actually worth something, able to achieve something.