trying this hard

[Topstudent]

A: You can't help me, all right? You have no idea what I'm going through.

B: Really? Hasn't it occurred to you that I might be trying this hard because I actually do think I know a thing or two about what you're going through?

(B has been trying to help A for a long time and doesn't want to give up.)

Would 'trying this hard' be completely natural here? And can it stand alone or should I add eg. "trying this hard to help you". I'm not concerned about 'this', only 'trying hard'.

 

[tedmc]

The phrase is perfectly natural and appropriate to me.