I understand interpersonal effectiveness but I still cannot say no to anyone without feeling like I am stabbing them in the heart.
More people experience this than they realize.
The nervous system can interpret healthy boundary-setting as an act of aggression when it has been conditioned to equate others' comfort with one's own safety.
“Where Are You with DBT for emotional dysregulation?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.