I am a person that has always struggled boundaries. Most of the time it happens with others but I can admit it happens with myself a lot too. I have learned that being bipolar makes me struggle even more, so I am truly not imagining it when I say I feel like it is the hardest thing to do.
I will admit it takes me a while to get to that point. It isn’t one transgression, it’s usually many - whether those transgressions are intentional or if I just perceived them to be transgressions - that doesn’t matter. If I feel slighted or hurt I am entitled to that feeling and the truth is no one can tell me otherwise. We all have things that push our buttons, things that hurt us more than others think they should, reactions that people can see as too much or even too little. I am not concerned with the way other people think anymore but I will always be concerned with the way I feel about it.
I want to be clear, boundary setting is intentional. It is because I am hurt and no one has to understand that but me.
But people have misconceptions about boundaries. It isn’t telling someone not to talk to you in a certain way, or telling someone you don’t like something they did. That’s a warning, not a boundary. A boundary is removing yourself from the situation so it isn’t allowed to happen to you again.
You disrespect me enough for me not to speak to you, then I create a boundary and guess what - I am going to hold the line.
You treat me badly in the past continuously and want to try to walk back into my life because you’re done being an asshole, well guess what?
I am going to hold the line.
You don’t want to admit your wrong at all, any time, any where - guess what?
I am going to hold the line.
You hurt me or those close to me, you take advantage, you’re cruel, you’re selfish….
I don’t care who you are. I am going to hold the line.
I think people don’t understand that it is a hard place for me to be in, those are hard decisions to make and this was a place I arrived at. It doesn’t come without tears, or pain, or sadness.
And it isn’t easy. I have feelings too. Feeling like you’re being treated badly and choosing to react to it to protect yourself is going to make people uncomfortable. It’s going to push people out of their comfort zones - the same way I felt pushed out of mine - and that’s what they deserve. Their comfort, their ability to move in and out of my life, their ability to do things without impunity stops with me.
Let’s burn the bridges down.