Setting Limits

Sometimes a person with mental illness may display some behavior that is challenging to family members. When these behaviors cause problems, it is important to develop reasonable rules and to set consequences for breaking those rules. This process is called setting limits. It can be helpful to everyone involved, because it sets out clearly what is acceptable and what is not. The type of limits you set would depend on your own situation and tolerances. Some examples of limit setting would be to allow cigarette smoking only in one room of the house, or outside instead of all over the house. Or, for a more serious situation, requiring that your relative stay on medications if they are to continue living in your house. In order for these tactics to work, you must be sure that you are willing to follow through on consequences. You must also make sure that your relative clearly understands the rules and the consequences. So in the example above, you would need to be sure that you could ask your relative to leave if you wanted to set such a condition for their continued stay in your house.