Setting Boundaries for Different People with a Bipolar Mind

Because no two people are the same.

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Tuesday’s Journal prompt: Which type of boundary is most challenging for you to maintain and why? Be honest. Is it because your brain struggles to say "no" when it's feeling extra empathetic, or because you're terrified of confrontation?

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Who needs a boundary? | Graphic made by author with Canva AI.

Hi there!

How did you do yesterday? Did you identify your boundary weaknesses? Now comes the fun part: actually doing something about it.

First, though, you need to remember no two relationships are alike. You may need a strict boundary for one friend and a more lenient one for another. Let’s learn about adapting your boundary-setting approach.

Here’s a quick example. Most days, I’m a hugger, even though I’m an introvert. Especially with the people I love the most, I’m happy to hug them every time I see them, and it doesn’t matter if they are men or women.

A few people, though, and one I can think of especially, make me uncomfortable when they are too close. If we’re talking, I may step back a bit to put more between us, and hugs with them never happen.

Remember, setting boundaries isn't about being mean or cutting people off. It's about drawing clear lines so that your relationships can thrive with mutual respect, not resentment. And let's be real, with a bipolar brain, you need all the healthy relationships you can get. The unhealthy ones just add to the chaos.

Now, let’s discuss how to set boundaries