Pamela Chan, M.Ed/Editorial
Whether you’re a 15 year old girl or a 55 year old woman, the day may arrive when the penny drops and you realize that you are perpetually being disrespected by one or more people in your life. Perhaps it might even be the same person who is causing you to feel uncomfortable, or worse, over and over again. Over time, such sneak attacks can have a deterimental effect on your mental health; your ability to feel like you have agency in your life; and, your ability to be in relationship with the people who are disrespecting you. These interactions are a source of stress and rob you of your peace over time.
At the root of these challenges, you may not realize that you are emotionally emeshed with the people who feel that they have a right to treat you the way that they do. Emotional enmeshment is a psychological term that describes a dysfunctional relationship dynamic in which healthy boundaries between individuals are either unclear or do not exist. The relationship involves an excessive amount of emotional closeness and difficulty maintaining autonomy and a sense of self.
Phew. That’s a lot!
Melanie Lee Robbins is an American author, podcast host and a lawyer by training who publishes content about a broad range of mental health and well being topics. “Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling dismissed, overlooked, or drained — but you couldn’t quite put your finger on why?”, Melanie asked recently. “You’re not imagining it. Disrespect is everywhere, and often it’s so subtle that you don’t realize it’s happening until it’s already taken a toll on your confidence, energy, and peace of mind.”
In her podcast about this topic, Melanie shares about the six subtle ways that people could be disrespecting you, and she provides advise about what you can do if these issues are happening in your life. The topics include:
- what to do when someone talks over you;
- recognizing emotional invalidation;
- addressing chronic lateness;
- the impact of silent treatment;
- standing up to condescending behavior; and,
- responding to backhanded compliments.
Each one of these topics merits a deep conversation dive. Having all of these topics wrapped up in one podcast is a gift that will keep on giving. If you’ve been struggling with some or maybe even all of these issues, do take the time to make a cup of tea and sit down with Mel for a chat. Mel is one of my favourite podcasters. If you don’t know her work, you’re in for a treat. Check her out on your favourite social media channel such as You Tube or Spotify.
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