Welcome to the forum! Suspension supposed to be stiff? Yes... Punishing? No.
Options/Problems:
1) Check to see if shocks need to be replaced.
2) Remove rear bump stops to see if the ride improves - if it does and you like the ride then consider cutting the bump stops in half and reinstall them.
3) Springs may have lost some strength and may need to be replaced. If your bumpstops are touching the axle, the springs have probably sagged. The bumpstops should be fairly close to the axle, if they are not you might have a set of lift springs or spacers.
Sent from my "two hands on a keyboard"