Saying 'yes' to every request can lead to burnout: Expert warns on setting healthy boundaries

Responding positively to others' requests and trying to please those around you can be seen as a natural part of daily relationships. However, when a person cannot say "no" even when they want to, and constantly puts their own needs on the back burner to be accepted, it can turn into a behavioral pattern that increases mental burden over time.

Expert Clinical Psychologist Jülide Unutmaz from Anadolu Medical Center Hospital stated that this situation is defined as "People Pleasing" and noted that the individual may have difficulty recognizing their own needs and boundaries.

According to Unutmaz, the fear of rejection, the desire to avoid conflict, feelings of guilt, and the need for approval are among the primary reasons that make it difficult to say "no." At the root of this behavior may lie experiences of conditional love, overly critical parental attitudes, and a perceived necessity to be compliant in order to be accepted.

Emphasizing that a constant search for approval can make a person's self-worth dependent on external validation, Unutmaz pointed out that in the long term, this can lead to burnout, anxiety, accumulated anger, emotional fatigue, and depressive symptoms.

SAYING 'NO' IS NOT SELFISH

Stating that in order to set healthy boundaries, a person must first recognize their own needs, Unutmaz expressed that trying to say "no" in small, everyday situations can help develop this skill.

Unutmaz remarked, "Saying no is not selfishness; it is one of the fundamental elements of healthy relationships." Noting that setting boundaries does not mean rejecting the other person or distancing oneself from the relationship, Unutmaz stated that a person can express their needs clearly without being hurtful.

Stating that making decisions based on time, energy, and circumstances instead of responding positively to every request can both strengthen one's mood and support mutual respect in relationships, Unutmaz said that clear boundaries can help establish more balanced relationships.

News Source: 12punto