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Page 2
Setting Boundaries Numerous books are on the market about this topic. My own definition of personal boundaries is where my personal space ends and other's interaction with that space begins. I have a physical/spiritual/emotional space that is mine. Around it are rings, the closest ring to your personal space are your closest relationships. If we allow others to invade our personal space, we lose some of our privacy, so to speak, and begin to lose a feeling for who we are. If we invade another's space, we are not respecting their privacy. In both cases, however, we/they need to learn to set boundaries and keep them strong around our/their space. When two people are constantly dipping into each other's space in a codependent relationship, a very unhealthy situation arises indeed. Those of us with PTSD may be accustomed to not being allowed to have our "space" as children and then as teens, so as adults are unsure how to develop it. This, as with all other recovery issues, takes time and starts with a decision to set a boundary first and foremost as to what is OK to share with others emotionally/spiritually/physically and what is not. After that you may begin to fine-tune these choices. Identifying Strengths, accomplishments, etc. For so long, we have done nothing but put ourselves down. How many of you are uncomfortable when you receive a compliment? Just as I thought. When our self-esteem is at a low, we only see the negative in ourselves, and cannot believe that anyone would see anything else but that either. Well, I have another question for you. How many of you reading this article are diagnosed with PTSD, and are still working, doing your best to raise a family, and have a social life, or any combination of these things? Any of those, my friend, are a major accomplishment because for many the diagnosis came long after the symptoms, and chances are the symptoms were quite severe before you went for help. Look back in your life, and identify HONESTLY, the things you have done in your life. Education, hobbies, life events, volunteer work, service work, your family, everything that you can say you have done. Don't allow self doubt to come into the picture here. You might want to ask a close longtime friend what she has seen, and take her at her word. Write this all down, and refer to it often.
The copyright of the article Coping Skills - Self Esteem Part 2 - Page 2 in Post-Traumatic Stress is owned by . Permission to republish Coping Skills - Self Esteem Part 2 - Page 2 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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