The Importance of Boundaries in Mental Health
Both physical and mental health benefit from
appropriate boundaries. Good boundaries facilitate empathic and equal
relationships with others, in which we can understand what thoughts or feelings
are 'us' and which are other people's. Crucially, we can understand our wish to
care about what is happening for someone. A good mental boundary can protect
our mind from being invaded and overwhelmed by the thoughts and feelings of
others. This is often necessary when working with those who are struggling, in
order to avoid counter-transference and 'compassion fatigue': we do not learn
to care about others by not looking after ourselves. Boundaries also facilitate
our sense of identity and separateness as unique individuals. This makes it
easier to be clear about who we are with others and for others to understand us
better too. Personal boundaries can also protect us by setting limits on what
we can be asked to help with or fix.
Yet setting these limits or boundaries can be
difficult, especially if we would prefer to be people-pleasers or 'rescuers',
or if we want to remake our history to a preferred version. Sometimes cultural
background can make it harder for us to believe that we can actually have
boundaries. Our culture provides normative belief systems that pressure us into
actions like these: because we live in societal communities, thinking they
depend on us to be like this, we may feel little choice in setting our own personal
boundaries.
1. Types of Boundaries and Their Significance
Boundaries come in numerous forms: physical
boundaries, such as body language and assertively and politely asking someone
to respect personal space; emotional boundaries, such as discerning one's own
feelings and values, identifying inappropriate behavior, and managing conflict
effectively to prevent emotionally deteriorative interactions; and digital
boundaries, such as limiting toxic inputs and choosing not to engage in social
media. While respecting these boundaries can make a world of difference in a person's
mental health, they are often ignored intentionally or otherwise. If a given
boundary is not honored or not apparent, a person's mental health can be deeply
affected, and this lack of recognition can impair many aspects of a person's
life, both personally and professionally. 1. Physical Boundaries: In life and
in work, having an effective personal space related to physical boundaries is
incredibly important. Whether in staff meetings, restrooms, or one's desk,
having privacy is essential for maintaining not only mental health but even
physical wellness. In hospital settings, for example, violating physical
boundaries, such as knocking on a patient's door and waiting for a response
before entering, is not only unprofessional but potentially traumatic for the
patient and can exacerbate their condition. 2. Emotional Boundaries:
Understanding and thus using emotional boundaries means identifying one's
feelings, processing whether or not those feelings indicate a personal
conflict, and constructively managing that conflict. In the workplace,
emotional boundaries are pertinent to prevent professional burnout and improve
one's psychological resilience. 3. Digital Boundaries: With the advent of
technology, assertive boundary setting is necessary both in social
relationships generally and within the realm of social media and digital
experiences specifically. From fake news to online trolls, toxic inputs to
one's life can be detrimental, making digital boundary setting vital. In
summary, comprehensive mental health necessitates the identification of one's
emotional and psychological boundaries and the assertive approach to assert
those boundaries to those around oneself. Failing to do so will only exacerbate
any current or potential future emotional or mental difficulties.
2. The Role of Boundaries in Therapeutic Relationships
In therapeutic settings, boundaries play a crucial
role. A therapeutic relationship differs from other professional relationships
in the degree of identification and intimacy that builds up. It is essential to
establish clear boundaries in the professional relationship, also known as the
therapeutic frame of reference, in order to foster a sense of safety and
consistency in the work with a client, providing the safety necessary for the
individual to make use of this relationship for launching into a process of
self-understanding and transformation. Therefore, a vital component of the
therapeutic relationship is to raise the capacity to be aware of boundaries and
their potential impact. Clear boundaries help keep relationships focused and
contribute to their effectiveness. So, the process of getting back in touch
with ourselves and the boundaries, physical and emotional, that are right for
us and respecting them is essential.
It is generally not wise to cross or disregard
boundaries simply in order to build a friendship with a client. It is always
the therapist's obligation to maintain appropriate boundaries in intimate
relationships. Maintaining a professional frame of reference is not just an
ethical consideration for therapists; it also contributes to the effectiveness
of their work with clients because this is an important step in building trust
and respect in a professional therapeutic relationship.
In essence, appropriate boundaries help in a number of
ways; first, they clarify the role of the therapist. Boundaries also clarify
the task at hand and define some of the rules and regulations for the client.
They delineate connections between the unique arena or space of the therapist
and the unique arena or space of the client. Finally, boundaries can serve to
demonstrate the therapist's validity to the client. An example is that the
therapeutic frame is a cleansing space for the contact of the client that can
give their non-being in a contained way until they are able to work reliant on
their transformative self so they can become an authentic being. Ethical
conduct is of primary importance in the therapy field to this extent.
Boundaries help with the therapeutic experience in acknowledging the client’s
introductory experience. Boundary crossing and violation reference five
difficulties that should be prevented to maintain ethical conduct. These
include dependency.
3. Boundaries in Self-Care and Personal Well-being
Even for those living with mental illness, boundaries
are key; in fact, they are vital to maintain stability as far as mental health
goes. This next section will focus on how important boundaries are within the
realm of taking care of oneself and personal well-being. Depending on the
individual, there may be specific strategies for setting boundaries to protect
personal space; finding that delicate balance of keeping enough space open for
socialization or for partners and offspring without feeling overwhelmed and,
therefore, strained. An example of this would be going out for a walk by
oneself without the partner and offspring, where it is possible to enjoy the
fall colors and breathe clean, crisp autumn air. During the walk, it’s possible
to take spontaneous pictures, pause to watch the wonderful bridges spanning the
river, and do some soul-searching without any interruptions besides the sound
of the other footfalls trying to keep pace. Personal boundaries are important
self-care; they fall under domains of personal well-being involving emotional
health, spiritual health, and taking care of physical health. Emotionally, when
healthy boundaries are placed into a day-to-day schedule or routine, it is
easier for one to maintain their composure; physically separating oneself from
whatever may be causing distress or anger in the moment, or psychically
separating oneself from an onslaught of programs played out on personal,
social, political, etc., televisions. Each individual must find what works for
them in creating personal boundaries; they are important aspects of physical
well-being standards in self-care and are important assurances of emotional
health and, therefore, of emotional stability. This in no way should take from
any of the developed techniques, only to add to each person’s mental health
toolbox.