If you constantly allow people to define you by forcing you to make decisions that will always be in their best interest, then you have created unhealthy boundaries.
According to the Healthy Relationship Initiatives publication, unhealthy boundaries involve a disregard for your own and others’ values, wants, needs and limits.
Unhealthy boundaries can lead to potentially abusive relationships among people.
They are mostly brought about by lack of clear communication and understanding between people.
Unhealthy boundaries include disrespecting the values, beliefs, and opinions of others when you do not agree with them, not making a decision and constantly disagreeing with other people’s decisions.
It may also include beating yourself up for other people’s feelings, touching people without their permission and engaging in sexual activity without clear consent from the other person.
However, everyone craves healthy physical, mental and emotional boundaries in any type of relationship.
Healthy boundaries look different for each person and relationship, and they may change over time.
Healthy boundaries involve communicating your wants and needs in a relationship.
It also involves communicating and respecting the wants and needs of the other person in the relationship.
The publication states that boundaries can be both physical and emotional.
Physical boundaries involve what you are comfortable with regarding personal space, touch, and privacy.
Emotional boundaries encompass the line between your feelings and the feelings of others.
Healthy boundaries help prevent relationship abuse by helping individuals understand differences in relationships.
