Meet Nedra Glover Tawwab

Nedra Glover Tawwab is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist who specializes in relationships. She helps people manage anxiety and depression that often stem from challenging relationships, and she teaches people how to set boundaries with difficult family members.  She shares a lot of tips for self-care and setting boundaries on social media, including on Instagram, where she has attracted over 825,000 followers. Nedra’s book, “Set Boundaries, Find Peace,” is filled with actionable strategies for establishing the boundaries you need to achieve better work-life balance, cope with toxic people, and enjoy healthy relationships.

Why Nedra Glover Tawwab Is Mentally Strong 

Nedra’s philosophy is that most relationship problems stem from a lack of boundaries. And her goal is to help people discover how to speak up and set boundaries that can help them establish healthy relationships with themselves and others.  Nedra openly shares her knowledge, skills, and practices on social media. She teaches people what she’s learned and inspires others to have compassion toward themselves and others. 

What You’ll Hear on the Show

Why it’s so important to establish boundariesHow boundaries help us develop healthier relationshipsWhat a boundary really is and how to establish itThe telltale signs that you need to set better boundariesHow to take back your power when you aren’t being treated the way you wantExamples of how to set boundaries in specific situations (a mother-in-law who doesn’t follow the rules with your kids, someone who shows up unannounced when you don’t want them to, or a friend who always calls in a crisis)How Nedra set boundaries when she worked as a juvenile probation officerHow to know when someone is manipulating youWhat to do when someone is not respecting your boundariesHow to respond to someone who always asks for your helpHow to get started setting boundaries if you aren’t used to establishing them

What You’ll Learn About Boundaries and Mental Strength

Some people are passive in their relationships. They allow others to treat them any way they want. Consequently, they often feel used and frustrated when people don’t show them respect. This interferes with developing healthy relationships. Other people are aggressive. They get upset when others don’t meet their expectations, yet they don’t communicate those expectations ahead of time. Their behavior often means they aren’t well-liked, and they struggle to maintain close relationships.  People who have good boundaries set the rules and communicate these rules to others. When people fail to meet those expectations, they address it. This helps them establish the healthiest relationships because everyone knows one another’s expectations. People who have healthy boundaries feel more in control. While they aren’t trying to control other people, they know they can control how they respond to others. Having a healthy sense of control and healthy relationships with others is key to being mentally strong.

Quotes From Nedra

“There are a lot of feelings and behaviors that happen that could indicate that a boundary is needed.”“Letting people know that certain things are just not working for you is a really helpful way to take back your power.”“I don’t think allowing people to take advantage of you is a sign you are a nice and kind person.”“Boundaries without consequences are not really boundaries. They’re just wishful thinking.”

More About the Podcast

The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too.