

Setting Boundaries in High Conflict: Your Questions About Difficult Relationships
Sep 25, 2025
Delve into the complexities of setting boundaries with high-conflict individuals. Explore poignant scenarios, like how to handle an ex-girlfriend using manipulation and the careful approach of the SLIC method. Discover typical responses of high-conflict people to criticism, including denial and blame-shifting. Learn practical strategies for managing challenging relationships with aging parents while maintaining care. The hosts emphasize the power of firm boundaries and clear communication to foster healthier dynamics.
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Set Limits And Credible Consequences
- Set clear consequences after limits so they are credible and enforceable.
- Prepare steps with a therapist and plan exactly how you will impose those consequences.
Have A Safety-First Response Plan
- Do not let suicide threats hold you hostage; call emergency services if someone is an immediate risk.
- Have a pre-planned response (e.g., call 911) so you can follow through safely.
Threats Can Be Both Signal And Strategy
- Suicide threats can be both a manipulation and a genuine risk; treat them seriously while weighing context.
- Many who attempt suicide later realize they wanted to live, so seek therapeutic help for underlying problems.