Relationships

Are you experiencing challenges in your relationship with a partner, relative, friend, or boss?  When someone’s actions or words don’t align with our expectations, it can be deeply painful, leaving us feeling confused or even questioning our own worth. Relationships are essential for our sense of joy, security, and acceptance, yet they can also be sources of hurt, frustration, or resentment.

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If you find yourself prioritizing others’ needs over your own, sharing too much too quickly, struggling to set boundaries, or feeling unable to say ‘no,’ these are typical people-pleasing behaviours.  Often, these tendencies evolve as ways of coping with past emotional wounds, helping us avoid conflict and rejection. Such behaviours frequently stem from early experiences where prioritizing others was a way to feel safe or accepted.

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Alternatively, some people may experience difficulty opening up and trusting others, maintain rigid boundaries, or withdraw from relationships at the first sign of discomfort. These responses, too, can be ways to feel safe following past experiences where vulnerability led to hurt.

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If your partner or someone close to you exhibits narcissistic behaviours, such as entitlement, gaslighting, manipulation, or a lack of empathy, this can be especially challenging for your mental health.