Boundary: the line (or limit) that exists between you and another person
A boundary is the space between your needs/wants and their needs/wants. Learning to set healthy boundaries for your body, mind, time and relationships will help you reduce your anxiety and improve your health.
3 Tips for Setting Healthy Boundaries
Physical Boundaries
Honor your need for physical space. If someone is standing too close to you, it’s ok to take a step back and create the space you need to feel safe and comfortable. It’s ok to say or yell “No!” Pay attention to your body’s need for rest, food, physical exercise, and sleep. Give your body what it needs.
Psychological Boundaries
Take time to reflect upon your own wants and needs. Choose that which is nourishing to your mind. If your mind is beginning to spiral with worry thoughts, it’s okay to recognize that this is happening. Just notice it. Don’t criticize yourself.
Take three deep belly breaths. Know that you can choose to focus your attention on something else (like what it feels to breathe) to give your mind a break from the worry.
Relationship Boundaries
Your time, your energy, and your dignity are important. If someone is attempting to intrude upon these, it’s okay to say no and practice self-care. Just because someone asks you to do something for them doesn’t mean that you have to do it.
Saying no to someone is not mean. Saying no to something that you don’t want to do will preserve your health.
Learning to set healthy boundaries will help ease your anxiety.
For more tips on how to manage your anxiety, follow the Healing Hearts Blog.
Written by: Hazel Navarro, LICSW