Setting Multiple Types of Boundaries

The road to recovery is a challenging one, and setting boundaries is a vital step for both the individual and their support system. Boundaries are more than just creating physical space; they are a powerful tool for maintaining mental health, practicing self-care, and fostering a healthy, sober lifestyle. Understanding the different types of boundaries and how to implement them effectively is key to a successful recovery journey.

How do boundaries help people in recovery?

Boundaries help those in recovery by allowing them to focus on themselves and protect them from outside stressors that could impact their progress. They provide a sense of safety, allowing individuals to prioritize self-care, practice coping skills, and explore new hobbies without feeling the need to justify their actions.

There's much more to understand about the multiple types of boundaries and their purpose in the recovery process. Keep reading to learn how you can create a unified and supportive front for a healthy, sober lifestyle.

Why are boundaries so important for a successful recovery from addiction?

Setting effective boundaries is a crucial part of the recovery process. Not only can setting clear boundaries help those in recovery feel safer through their difficult transition to a sober lifestyle, but supports can also learn to set and respect effective boundaries to maintain their own mental health and self-care practices.

However, boundaries can take a number of different forms and are more than providing someone with physical space during the recovery process.

Understanding the purpose behind setting boundaries, talking about consequences for breaking them, and creating a clear understanding of the various types of boundaries can help those in recovery and their supports continue to focus on creating a unified front for a healthy, sober lifestyle. 

What Are the Multiple Types of Boundaries You Can Set in Recovery? 

Boundaries are helpful in many ways to those in recovery programs. Setting clear boundaries can help an individual focus on themselves, or further shield themselves from outside stressors that may impact their recovery.

Clear boundaries for one’s work-life can help mitigate the stresses of the workforce, while personal boundaries can allow an individual to continue to prioritize self-care without feeling as if they have to justify their actions, allowing each person to practice their coping skills and exploring newfound hobbies and interests. For support systems, these boundaries can feel difficult to acknowledge. It is common that supports will want to do everything they can to help an individual maintain their sobriety.

However, maintaining a certain level of distance also has its advantages. Without setting and respecting these boundaries, one’s assistance can quickly feel overbearing, and can even lead to a degree of resentment where an individual may not want one’s support if they feel it is becoming oppressive or invasive to one’s personal space. 

Various Types of Boundaries

There are several different kinds of boundaries that can be set, and it is important to openly discuss each type of boundary to continue moving forward through the recovery process alongside understanding, unified supports. The types of boundaries that can be set are: 

1. Physical:

   This boundary is the most common type of boundary discussed and involves addressing one’s personal space. For some, this can mean having a safe space all to their own, such as a bedroom, where they can safely and privately engage in self-care practices, and even have a degree of agency over the environment by choosing decor and resources included.

   
   

   Setting physical boundaries can mean retaining this agency as well as asking that one not be disturbed if they are in this space. However, physical boundaries can also be more interpersonal, such as an individual not wishing to hug another upon meeting and instead opting for a handshake or a simple verbal greeting, maintaining one’s personal space bubble in a respectful but clear way.

   
   

   Lastly, these physical boundaries can be more material and can include certain objects of personal importance, such as one’s phone, car, photo album, and especially a journal or art supplies or other private outlets. 

   
   

2. Conversational:

   These boundaries can help define relationships. There may be certain subjects that those in recovery may not wish to talk about, or that may prompt unnecessary additional stresses, and it may be best to avoid discussing politics or other controversial subjects for the sake of this stress.

   
   

   Respecting these boundaries means finding new topics of conversation without prying into why an individual may not want to speak about certain subjects. If an individual is setting these conversational boundaries and is met with responses like, “Why do you want to change topics? Don’t you agree?” relationships can become stifled and even feel hostile. 

   
   

3. Emotional:

   Emotional boundaries mean that there is often a time or place to talk about one’s progress in recovery. While supports may want to consistently check in on their loved ones, constant questions about one’s progress or emotions can feel exhausting.

   Emotional boundaries mean that talking about their recovery, anxiety, depression, or any other emotional state isn’t something that can happen around the clock.

   
   

   Those in recovery will also want to talk about dinner, a movie, or lighthearted interests or hobbies. Respecting emotional boundaries means understanding that there can be a set time or place for these emotionally-charged discussions and that these times can be agreed upon in order to formally separate one’s time discussing these difficult topics.

   
   

   Scheduled weekly meetings or family therapy sessions can help structure these emotional boundaries, and their implementation can add an air of safety to those in recovery.

   
   

4. Time:

   Setting boundaries around time means respecting that an individual in recovery may not want to join in activities, or may want some time for self-care. In practice, turning down invitations to go out or spend time with family and friends is something that needs to be respected.

   
   

   Time boundaries also mean that an individual may agree to certain activities, but might want to only stay for an hour or two, or that they have their own plans. Understanding that those in recovery have agency over their time is essential.

   
   

   While scheduling weekly meetings and family times together can help mitigate this issue, it is still important to respect another’s time even if they seem otherwise free. An individual shouldn’t be expected to overcommit or exhaust themselves and they may want to use their time to get some rest or self-care, all of which is just as important as any other activity. 

   
   

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the different types of boundaries?

There are four main types of boundaries: physical, conversational, emotional, and time.

• Why is it difficult for a support system to acknowledge boundaries?

It's common for supporters to want to do everything they can to help. However, without setting and respecting boundaries, their assistance can feel overbearing and even lead to resentment.

• What is an example of a physical boundary?

A physical boundary can be as simple as an individual not wishing to hug another person and instead opting for a handshake or a simple verbal greeting.

• How can you respect emotional boundaries?

You can respect emotional boundaries by understanding that there is a time and place for emotionally charged discussions and that these can't happen around the clock. Scheduled meetings or therapy sessions can help.

• What does it mean to set boundaries around time?

Setting boundaries around time means respecting an individual's decision to turn down invitations or to only stay for a short period of time, understanding they may need time for rest or self-care.

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We understand that navigating the path to recovery and setting healthy boundaries can be challenging. At Chateau Health and Wellness Treatment Center, we're here to walk alongside you, offering a supportive and understanding environment where we can work together to build a foundation for a healthy, sober life. Our team is dedicated to helping you and your loved ones learn to communicate effectively and establish the boundaries needed for lasting wellness. We believe in a collaborative approach to recovery, and we're ready to partner with you on this journey. Please call us at (435) 222-5225 to learn more about how we can support you.

About The Author

Ben Pearson, LCSW, Clinical Director

Ben Pearson, LCSW - Clinical Director

With 19 years of experience, Ben Pearson specializes in adolescent and family therapy, de-escalation, and high-risk interventions. As a former Clinical Director of an intensive outpatient program, he played a key role in clinical interventions and group therapy. With 15+ years in wilderness treatment and over a decade as a clinician, Ben has helped countless individuals and families navigate mental health and recovery challenges.

Danny Warner, CEO

Danny Warner, CEO of Chateau Health and Wellness

Brings a wealth of experience in business operations, strategic alliances, and turnaround management, with prior leadership roles at Mediconnect Global, Klever Marketing, and WO Investing, Inc. A graduate of Brigham Young University in Economics and History, Danny has a proven track record of delivering results across diverse industries. His most transformative role, however, was as a trail walker and counselor for troubled teens at the Anasazi Foundation, where he directly impacted young lives, a personal commitment to transformation that now drives his leadership at Chateau.

Austin Pederson, Executive Director

Austin Pederson, Executive Director of Chateau Health and Wellness

Brings over eight years of experience revolutionizing mental health and substance abuse treatment through compassionate care and innovative business strategies. Inspired by his own recovery journey, Austin has developed impactful programs tailored to individuals facing trauma and stress while fostering comprehensive support systems that prioritize holistic wellness. His empathetic leadership extends to educating and assisting families, ensuring lasting recovery for clients and their loved ones.