The Five Pillars of Healthy Relationships Part 2

Pillar 2: Setting Functional Boundaries

Boundaries serve to:

• prevent others from abusing us
• keep others from abusing others
• help enforce a sense of self

External boundaries: keep others physically away from us, divided into sexual and physical

Internal boundaries: separate our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors from being influenced by others

When boundaries crumble:

• Nonexistent boundaries: individual unable to separate self from other

• Damaged boundaries: partial boundaries, can separate self in some situations

• Walls: separate self from other completely, usually made of fear or anger