I have boundary issues like a snowflake, complying too much and listening at the cost of my threshold

I often get overwhelmed and emotional meltdown after listening to somebody for long without expressing my boundary. Due to which I feel better alone, with little communication from outside world. Is there a better world out there where people don't weigh on each other?
Asked by Plum
Answered
10/05/2022

Hello and thank you for asking a question here on BetterHelp, and this is a very good question! Sounds like maintaining boundaries has been really difficult for you, but that could also be due to the people you were trying to keep boundaries up against. Typically when we have trouble keeping boundaries it can have a lot to do with our own self-esteem, but could also be due to our desire to feel needed. Both of these are core issues that would be greatly helped by talking to a therapist.

When you start talking to somebody about these type of core issues it often leads to new things being revealed. This is why the help of a professional could be so good for you. It is very easy to get linked with a therapist here on BetterHelp, all you have to do is click on the get started button on the homepage and follow the prompts from there. 

Now back to your initial question, is there a better world out there where people don't weigh on each other? My very simple answer would be no, but I would also add to that answer that you don't have to surround yourself with people that weigh on each other. You accomplish this through two things, you must recognize the type of person who is going to weigh on you and then you must maintain rigid boundaries with them. There are three different types of boundaries that we can maintain with people, the first is those rigid boundaries. This is where we make a purposeful effort to be detached and avoid a close and personal relationship, you will do this with people who are toxic or people you know you cannot trust. The next and opposite type of boundary is a porous boundary, think of it like Swiss cheese, this is where you have an extremely close relationship with somebody with little to no boundaries. You only want to do this with people who are very respectful of you, and people you deeply trust. The last boundary is healthy boundaries, it's where you don't compromise values for each other and you know your personal wants and needs, being accepting of one another.

Right now it sounds like you have very porous boundaries, it also sounds like you have a desire to have more rigid boundaries but they don't work out. As I was saying earlier this is most likely due to two different things, your lack of self-esteem and willingness to let somebody walk on you, along with being in a relationship or friendship with somebody who doesn't respect you. The benefit is both of those can be changed, you can make the effort to have a more rigid boundary with this person, or multiple people, making an active effort to keep them at an arms distance. While also working to improve your own self-esteem to where you are more easily able to stick up for yourself and say no. The first step in this is to ask yourself, "why is it that I find it so hard to say no? Why is it that other peoples needs trump my needs? And finally, what do I need to do to make my needs the priority of my life?" I want you to take all of these questions very seriously. Doing so will help you discover why your boundaries become porous. After this I want you to start practicing saying no to people, specifically with the people who weigh on you. You must expect that they will not have a positive reaction to you saying no, but if it is something that you don't want to do then you have every right to say no. Remember when they react poorly to your fair boundary, it is not a reflection of you it is a reflection of them. When somebody doesn't respect your boundary it is their problem not yours. 

I hope you were able to find something in here that helps and I wish you the best of luck on this journey!