Setting healthy boundaries
Boundaries are about what you will do — not about controlling what they do.
1 min read
What a boundary is
A boundary describes what you will and won't accept, and what you will do. "You must stop drinking" is a demand. "I won't be in the car if you've been drinking" is a boundary — you control it.
How to set one
- Choose one boundary that matters most to your safety or wellbeing.
- State it calmly, at a sober time, in a sentence or two.
- Say what you will do if it isn't respected — and only say what you'll actually do.
- Follow through consistently.
- Get support for yourself; holding boundaries is tiring.
Tools that may help
Editorial draft — awaiting qualified clinical review
This page was researched and written by the GAREP editorial process with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed. It has not yet been reviewed by a licensed clinician. Use it to understand and prepare, not to make medical decisions on your own.
GAREP Editorial (AI-assisted draft)
Written to be useful in any country. Services and medication availability differ by country.
- Published
- October 17, 2026
- Updated
- October 17, 2026