Finding it Hard to Set Boundaries? Think of It This Way

Here's what's happening on the HealthyPlace site this week:

• Finding it Hard to Set Boundaries? Think of It This Way
• From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs
• Video: Stereotypes of Bipolar Women
• Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans
• Mental Health Quote

Finding it Hard to Set Boundaries? Think of It This Way

Setting boundaries in any relationship, be it work, personal, or casual, can be tough to do. Yet establishing healthy boundaries is important for mental health; they let you function well in the world and help others meet their needs while simultaneously allowing you to maintain a sense self and meet your own needs.

Knowing this and wanting healthy boundaries is one thing. Establishing and keeping boundaries isn't so easy. Two concepts can help you know where to draw your boundary line: compromise and appeasement.

Compromise is part of having healthy boundaries. It's part of a give-and-take relationship between people. With compromise, all involved expresses their ideas or desires, and these are heard respectfully. Many times, we have to give up some of what we want, but in compromising, we don't have to give up everything. Compromise is a dance that helps people maintain their most important boundaries.

Appeasement, on the other hand, means constantly giving in in order to make others happy or to avoid conflict (How to Stop Being a People Pleaser). If we're appeasing everyone, we are giving up our own healthy boundaries. We can end up feeling taken advantage of and resentful.

Setting boundaries is an important aspect of maintaining mental health. Check in with yourself. Do you find yourself appeasing others or compromising?

Related Articles Dealing with Boundaries

• Establishing Boundaries in PTSD Recovery
• Dissociative Identity Disorder and Boundary Setting
• Depression and Setting Emotional Boundaries
• Setting Boundaries with Borderline Sufferers
• Addictions and Setting Boundaries
• Boundaries

Your Thoughts

Today's Question: How do you set healthy boundaries for yourself? We invite you to participate by sharing your thoughts, experiences, and knowledge on the HealthyPlace Facebook page and on the HealthyPlace Google+ page.

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From the HealthyPlace Mental Health Blogs

On all our blogs, your comments and observations are welcomed.

• Start to Live Your Purpose — Choose Your Destiny Now
• Childhood Mental Disorders Are Not Always the Parents’ Fault
• Discussing Mental Health Stigma With Children Is Important
• Don’t Let Toxic Thinking Patterns Rule Your Life
• A Benefit of Going to Therapy Is Defeating Indecision
• Remembering My Hospitalization for Schizoaffective Disorder
• A Conversation with Anxiety Is Like Talking to a Bully

Feel free to share your thoughts and comments at the bottom of any blog post. And visit the mental health blogs homepage for the latest posts.

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From HealthyPlace YouTube Channel

Stereotypes of Bipolar Women

"Stereotypes of women with bipolar disorder usually revolve around three things, sex, anger and our inability to be good wives and/or mothers.

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Most Popular HealthyPlace Articles Shared by Facebook Fans

Here are the top 3 mental health articles HealthyPlace Facebook fans are recommending you read:

1. When Depression Causes a Lack of Motivation
2. Judging Those With/Without Well-Controlled Bipolar Disorder
3. Respect Yourself: Stop Letting Others Take Advantage of You

If you're not already, I hope you'll join us/like us on Facebook too. There are a lot of wonderful, supportive people there.

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Mental Health Quote

"The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of the world but those who fight and win battles that others do not know anything about." - Jonathan Harnisch.

Read more mental health stigma quotes.

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That's it for now. If you know of anyone who can benefit from this newsletter or the HealthyPlace.com site, I hope you'll pass this onto them. You can also share the newsletter on any social network (like facebook, stumbleupon, or google+) you belong to by clicking the links below. For updates throughout the week, circle HealthyPlace on Google+, follow HealthyPlace on Twitter or become a fan of HealthyPlace on Facebook. Also, check out HealthyPlace on Pinterest and share your mental health pins on our Share Your Mental Health Experiences board.

back to: HealthyPlace.com Mental-Health Newsletter Index