We are coming back to Boundaries. If you didn't listen to my episode on Boundary Basics,

please do as it has a lot of helpful context for this one. In this episode, we will address

why you may want to have boundaries in your relationship and a few practical rules to follow

in establishing those boundaries. Welcome back to Savvy Psychologist. I'm your host,

Dr. Monica Johnson. Every week on this show, I'll help you face life challenges with evidence-based

approaches, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment. I have received several questions around how

boundaries can help with relationship problems. The benefits of boundaries are, well, boundless.

When I received my training, one way that boundaries were taught to me was that they're like skin.

A boundary protects everything you have inside from the contaminants of the outside.

If you've struggled with boundaries, this may make sense to you. When you don't set boundaries,

you can feel physically, emotionally, and even spiritually ill. Similar to skin, boundaries are

also permeable. They allow you to be protected and interact with the world. But it also lets

relational interactions inside. The same way skin protects bacteria from getting in,

but you can also apply medicines or creams to the skin that serve a positive function.

Let's say you have a friend who you like, but they make jokes at your expense at times,

and it hurts your feelings. You've been afraid to talk to them about it, because you don't want

to hurt their feelings. But not doing so has caused you to avoid interacting with them as much.

Moreover, when you do interact with them, you're on edge because you are bracing yourself for the

next unpleasant joke. Consequently, you're not able to enjoy the time with them as much,

and you're not able to be your authentic self anymore. In many cases, this scenario can be

improved by a conversation about your boundaries. Additionally, boundaries can help to reduce

issues related to codependence and relationship. Having assertive boundaries that protect you

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