Boundaries are defined as guidelines, rules or limits that a person creates to identify what are reasonable, safe and permissible ways for others to treat them and how they will respond when someone steps outside those limits.
Boundaries are essential for creating and sustaining healthy boundaries for you and the people around you, as well as maintaining and continuing with your recovery from substance abuse. Setting healthy boundaries takes practice and the more you do it the better you’ll become at identify healthy boundaries with yourself and with other relationships.
Importance of Setting Healthy Boundaries
Setting healthy boundaries takes patience and the more you practice setting healthy boundaries, the more likely you are to feel positive about yourself and your future. Creating healthy boundaries leads to increases in your self worth and self-acceptance. You begin to identify your values what are you willingness to comprise on and what you are no longer willing to negotiate. Setting healthy boundaries allows you to make decisions and be confident over the decisions you have made. In addition, you begin creating healthier relationships as those around you will begin to respect the boundaries that you have created for yourself.
Setting Healthy Boundaries
- Create your boundaries
Before you begin setting your boundaries, take into consideration what areas in your life need more attention. Take into consideration the many ways that you and those close to you can help you in your recovery. Do you require more support from those around you? Do you need to set limits with your friends? Do you need your time and space to be respected?
- Communicate your boundaries
Once you have decided what your boundaries are, it’s important to begin telling others what your boundaries are. Begin communicating your boundaries to your friends and family and ensure that you do so in a confident and assertive manner. Make sure others know exactly what your boundaries are, your limits and what will happen if your boundaries are not respected.
- Practice makes perfect
Once you have created your boundaries and have started communicating them, make sure you begin enforcing and reinforcing your boundaries. It can be easy for others to forget what boundaries you have set for yourself; especially if it’s the first time you are setting boundaries. It is important that you continue setting and reinforcing this new and healthy habit in order to respect your self worth, create more meaningful relationships and continue working towards your recovery.
