Dr. David Hawkins, Director of The Marriage Recovery Center shares how to ensure that your complaints and concerns don’t actually end up enabling the very behaviors that are of concern to you and how to set boundaries with toxic people. Watch this and other videos by Dr. Hawkins to learn how to intervene in dysfunctional, hurtful behavior and how to guard and protect what is so important to you–your self!

How to Set Boundaries with Toxic People

Setting healthy boundaries is a crucial aspect of maintaining a happy and fulfilling life. It’s especially important when dealing with toxic individuals who can drain your energy and negatively impact your well-being. In this article, we will explore the concept of setting boundaries and how to differentiate between enabling destructive behaviors and intervening effectively.

Understanding the Boundary Dilemma

The foundation of setting boundaries lies in understanding the fundamental choice we make when dealing with toxic people. It’s a binary decision: either you are actively setting boundaries that protect your well-being, or you are inadvertently enabling destructive behaviors. There’s no middle ground.

The key question to ask yourself is: Are you allowing harmful behaviors to persist, or are you taking decisive steps to put an end to them?

Boundaries vs. Complaints

One common mistake people make when dealing with toxic individuals is resorting to complaints, arguments, and attempts to coerce change. This approach often leads to frustration and rarely results in lasting improvements in the relationship. Instead, the focus should be on setting boundaries that make it clear what you expect from others in your life.

The Power of Intervention

Setting boundaries effectively means intervening when necessary. Intervention involves taking decisive actions that impede destructive behaviors. Think of it as stepping into the path of oncoming traffic to prevent it from continuing. It may not always be comfortable, but it’s necessary to protect your well-being.

Here are some practical examples of how you can intervene:

1. Limiting Contact: If someone’s presence consistently brings negativity or harm into your life, it’s okay to step away from the relationship or limit your interactions.
2. Respect-Based Communication: Make it clear that you will only engage with someone when they treat you with respect. If disrespect continues, you distance yourself.
3. Conditional Engagement: Set conditions for your involvement in someone’s life. For instance, you may choose to spend time with them only when they are sober and not engaging in destructive behavior.
4. Self-Care Priority: Prioritize self-care by insisting on being involved with people who contribute positively to your life.

Avoiding Enabling Behaviors

Enabling behaviors, on the other hand, involve allowing destructive actions or habits to persist by accommodating or tolerating them. It’s akin to letting traffic flow without taking any action to stop it.

Some examples of enabling behaviors include:

1. Staying with a Person Who Disrespects You: Continuously engaging with someone who disrespects you communicates that their behavior is acceptable.
2. Ignoring Destructive Habits: If you ignore or downplay someone’s harmful habits, you indirectly condone those actions.

Managing Your Boundaries

Setting boundaries is an ongoing process that requires active management. Just like a fence around a yard needs regular maintenance to remain strong and effective, your personal boundaries need consistent attention.

You must ensure that your boundaries are solid, stable, and capable of protecting your emotional and mental well-being. If you feel that your boundaries are being violated or disrespected, it’s crucial to take action promptly.

In Conclusion

In the pursuit of a healthy and happy life, setting boundaries with toxic individuals is essential. Remember, it’s not about arguing or complaining but about intervening decisively when necessary.

Your boundaries are a declaration of what you require for a positive and fulfilling life. Don’t hesitate to protect your well-being by setting and managing strong boundaries that prioritize your happiness and health.

To learn how we can help, reach out to us at (206) 219-0145 or info@marriagerecoverycenter.com to speak with a Client Care Specialist

Also read: Why Does My Spouse Overreact All The Time?

About Dr. Hawkins:

The internet is inundated with hyperbole and misinformation about narcissism, leaving many people confused and hopeless. Get the facts on narcissism and emotional abuse from someone who has been researching, writing about and treating narcissism and emotional abuse for over a decade.

Dr. Hawkins is a best-selling author and clinical psychologist with over three decades of experience helping people break unhealthy patterns and build healthier relationships.

He is the founder and director of the Marriage Recovery Center and the Emotional Abuse Institute which offers education, training and counseling for people who want to break free of, and heal from, emotional abuse. Whether the perpetrator of the abuse is your spouse, partner, parent, boss, friend or family member, we offer practical advice for anyone trapped in a toxic, destructive relationship.

In addition to narcissism & emotional abuse, you’ll learn about the lesser known forms of abuse, including covert abuse, reactive abuse, spiritual abuse, secondary abuse, relationship trauma and much more.