COMMUNITY

ANNE-MARIE ELIAS

When we hear the word “boundaries” we tend to think about fences, those around our houses, pools, sporting fields and so on. Fences are a safety net or limit.

So, what have boundaries got to do with psychology and why is it important to have them? They are a conceptual limit between you and another person. They are about knowing where you end and others begin, about knowing what is yours and what is not. In effect, they acknowledge that everyone is responsible for themselves.

We develop boundaries from childhood and continue to work on them throughout our lives. They can be physical, emotional and mental. Some are tangible and others not.

Whilst physical boundaries are more obvious and emotional and mental boundaries more subtle, the latter are no less important.

Physical boundaries are about our personal space and belongings. For