my fishing gear weighed me down : BURDEN, saddle, overload, overburden, encumber, hamper, handicap.
the silence weighed me down : OPPRESS, depress, lie heavy on, burden, cast down, hang over, gnaw at, prey on (one's mind); trouble, worry, bother, disturb, upset, haunt, nag, torment, afflict, plague.
2192; headword