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Has anyone ever experienced the feeling of lack of personal self respect by allowing others to overstep your feelings?

A MyDepressionTeam Member asked a question 💭

This is my current situation. I live with my husband who I am the primary care taker of. He has zero respect for me. His actions at times rub off to my son. I try my best to stand up to them both. Only issue is they are what bring in our household income. I have been trying to find work hitting nothing but dead ends. I don't know how to describe it. My best friend is kinda aggregated with me for not standing my ground. She is concerned about how they treat me. She said I am the only… read more

April 7
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Answer Summary

Members connected over the painful experience of feeling trapped in situations where boundaries are repeatedly crossed, with many sharing... Read more

Members connected over the painful experience of feeling trapped in situations where boundaries are repeatedly crossed, with many sharing their own struggles with confrontation, fear of loss, and difficulty advocating for themselves. Several members offered encouragement to stand firm, set boundaries without guilt, and shared resources like BPDfamily.com for learning practical boundary-setting skills, while others emphasized the importance of prayer, meditation, and self-care during these difficult times. A recurring theme was the deep sense of isolation and hopelessness that comes from feeling financially or physically stuck, paired with the empowering reminder that choosing yourself and your well-being is not selfish but necessary.

A MyDepressionTeam Member

Yes. Was just discussing that with my therapist. He says I'm not advicating for myself. Afraid to say something, because I feel I'm going to say something wrong.

April 7 (edited)
A MyDepressionTeam Member

Absolutely! I allow myself to get walked on... I hate confrontation but I also feel like I will lose the person if I make an attempt to put my foot down. I have recently discovered boundaries lol

April 7
MyDepressionTeam

How can you rebuild self-respect when feeling trapped in a disrespectful situation with limited resources?

You're not alone in this struggle. Many MyDepressionTeam members have shared similar experiences with feeling trapped and allowing others to overstep boundaries, especially when depression and low self-esteem are Show Full Answer

How can you rebuild self-respect when feeling trapped in a disrespectful situation with limited resources?

You're not alone in this struggle. Many MyDepressionTeam members have shared similar experiences with feeling trapped and allowing others to overstep boundaries, especially when depression and low self-esteem are involved.

Your friend is right that standing your ground is important, but it's also understandable why this feels so difficult given your financial dependence and caregiving responsibilities. Depression often makes it harder to advocate for yourself, and the situation you're describing can actually worsen depression symptoms.

Here are some steps members have found helpful:

Start with small boundaries
- Practice saying "no" with kindness in low-stakes situations first
- Give yourself permission to pause before automatically saying yes to requests
- Remember that putting yourself first isn't selfish—it's necessary for your wellbeing

Build self-compassion
- Be kind to yourself rather than judgmental about your current situation
- Recognize that you're doing your best in difficult circumstances
- Stop comparing yourself to others or to an ideal version of yourself

Trust your instincts
- If something doesn't feel right, trust that feeling
- Your intuition about being disrespected is valid
- Learning to trust yourself makes you stronger over time

One member shared: "I have only just started to trust myself again and now I realize that I had been made to misjudge myself because people like to take advantage of people with depression. Trust yourself and you will become stronger."

The financial constraints are real and challenging. While you continue job searching, focus on what you can control—your internal dialogue and small acts of self-care that don't cost money.

April 7
A MyDepressionTeam Member

Hi I know what you mean by trapped. I am recovering from a torn meniscus on my left knee and I pray to God to give me the strength to stay positive and continue my journey. 🙏

April 12
A MyDepressionTeam Member

Be grateful today.
Good thought for a Thursday.

April 9

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