Overcompensating Boundaries in Relationships

Overcompensation is a defense mechanism wherein individuals attempt to mask their perceived weaknesses or insecurities by exhibiting the opposite behavior or attitude. In the realm of intimate relationships, this can manifest as overcompensating boundaries. Such boundaries, intended to be protective, may arise from underlying fears, insecurities, or past traumas rather than from genuine personal values or needs. This article seeks to illuminate the fine line between protective and overcompensating boundaries, discuss real-world examples, and offer guidance on finding that delicate balance.

The Role of Boundaries in Intimate Relationships

Boundaries play a fundamental role in shaping our presence in relationships. They act as invisible lines that define our individual spaces, reflect our beliefs, and touch our surroundings. In an intimate relationship, these boundaries become even more crucial as they determine the balance between two individuals’ autonomy and their shared intimacy. They help protect our emotional, physical, and mental well-being, ensuring that we feel safe, respected, and understood.

What do Overcompensating Boundaries look like?

Everyone has unique experiences that shape their approach to relationships. For some, past experiences or insecurities may lead to “overcompensating boundaries” as a protective measure. Here are some manifestations of these boundaries:

Rigid Boundaries: If past experiences or internalized beliefs make someone fear being perceived as weak or vulnerable, they might establish very rigid boundaries. They might also avoid emotional intimacy or push their partner away when they get too close. This can be a way of asserting control and preventing potential hurt.
Dominant Behavior: Someone who fears being controlled or dominated might overcompensate by trying to dominate every aspect of the relationship, from decision-making to emotional dynamics. They set boundaries that prioritize their needs, desires, and perspectives while often sidelining their partner’s.
Demanding Reassurance: Past traumas or insecurities around worthiness can lead to overcompensating behaviors where they constantly seek validation and reassurance. They might set boundaries requiring frequent affirmations of love, commitment, or loyalty from their partner.
Extreme Independence: Fearing dependency or being perceived as needy, they might overcompensate by insisting on extreme independence. This can mean resisting any shared activities, finances, or decision-making, even in a committed relationship.
Over-protectiveness: In an effort to ensure their partner doesn’t leave or betray them, someone might become overly protective or even jealous. Their overcompensating boundaries might involve strict “rules” about who their partner can spend time with or how they spend their free time.
Avoiding Vulnerability: If showing vulnerability was met with betrayal or hurt in the past, one might overcompensate by keeping emotional walls up. Their boundaries might prevent deep emotional sharing or discussions about past traumas.
Needing to Be Right: Someone with deep-seated insecurities might overcompensate by needing to be right all the time, equating being wrong with being unworthy. Their boundaries might involve not tolerating any criticism or differing viewpoints.

When Protective Measures Morph into Overcompensating Boundaries

Every individual possesses an innate right to set their boundaries. However, there exists a thin line between protective measures and unintentionally restrictive mandates. Here’s how valid relationship concerns might escalate into overly protective boundaries that, while seemingly safeguarding, might be disguising deeper traumas and insecurities:

Checking Partner’s Phone: A partner might demand “transparency” and insist on regularly checking the other’s phone, emails, or messages. While they might claim it’s their right in a committed relationship, it’s often an overcompensation for deep-seated trust issues or fears of abandonment. Example statement: “I just want to ensure that we have complete transparency in our relationship. If we’re truly committed to each other, there should be no secrets between us.“
Limiting Social Interactions: They might set a boundary that their partner shouldn’t hang out with certain friends or attend social events without them. While framed as a boundary for the relationship’s well-being, it’s often an overcompensation for insecurities or fears of being left out. Example statement: “I’ve seen so many relationships ruined because of outside influences. I want to protect our bond and ensure that nothing comes between us. It’s not that I don’t trust you; I just don’t trust others.“
Requiring Constant Updates: The partner might want continuous updates on where their significant other is, who they’re with, or what they’re doing. While this could be presented as a “safety” concern, it’s usually about control or alleviating anxiety. Example statement: “I worry about you. The world can be dangerous, and I just want to ensure you’re safe. It gives me peace of mind when I know where you are and what you’re doing.“
Avoiding Current Issues: They might steer clear of discussing certain aspects of the relationship, such as future plans, personal feelings, or unresolved disputes. Avoiding these topics due to discomfort or fear can be a form of overcompensation. Example statement: “I just think some things are better left unsaid; not everything needs to be analyzed and discussed. Let’s focus on the present and not dwell on every little issue.”
Demanding Reaffirmation: They might require their partner to frequently reaffirm love, commitment, or attraction. While it’s framed as a need for verbal affection, it often masks deep-seated self-worth issues. Example statement: “Verbal affirmations are just my love language. It’s how I feel connected and valued. In past relationships, I felt taken for granted, and I don’t want to feel that way again.”
Decision Dominance: They might insist on making all major decisions, claiming it’s their right because they’re more “experienced” or “knowledgeable.” This dominance can be overcompensation for fears of losing control or appearing weak. Example statement: “I’ve been through more experiences or have researched this topic more extensively, so I believe I have a better perspective on this. I’m only trying to protect us from making mistakes.”
Setting Ultimatums: Regularly giving ultimatums like “If you do X, then I’ll leave” or “You can’t do Y if you truly love me.” Such ultimatums might be framed as drawing boundaries, but they’re often tactics to control, rooted in fear or insecurity. Example statement: “I just want to ensure we’re on the same page about our priorities and values. It’s essential for me to know that you’re as committed to this relationship and our future as I am.”
Financial Control: They might assert that they should manage all finances or give their partner an “allowance.” While framed as responsible financial management, it’s often an overcompensation for deeper issues around control or fear of dependency. Example statement: “Finances are a leading cause of stress and breakups in relationships. By managing our money this way, I believe I’m protecting our future and ensuring we remain financially stable.”

The Difference between healthy boundaries and overcompensating boundaries

Overcompensating boundaries tend to differ from healthy boundaries in four ways:

Origin: Genuine boundaries often stem from understanding oneself, whereas overcompensated boundaries arise from unresolved past issues.
Consistency: Genuine boundaries remain relatively stable across situations, while overcompensated ones can be unpredictable and situational.
Communication: While genuine boundaries are usually communicated with clarity and openness, overcompensated boundaries often come with emotional baggage, making them harder to convey and understand.
Purpose: Genuine boundaries serve to protect one’s well-being and sense of self, while overcompensated boundaries aim to shield oneself from perceived threats, which might not be present in the current relationship.

Relationship Dynamics That Result from Overcompensating Boundaries

In a relationship where one partner overcompensates due to underlying insecurities or traumas, the dynamics can become complex and challenging. Here’s a description of the dynamics which frequently develop within such a relationship:

Power Imbalances: Overcompensation can lead to one partner dominating various aspects of the relationship, whether it’s decision-making, emotional expression, or setting the pace of the relationship. This can create power imbalances where one partner feels controlled or overshadowed.
Lack of Genuine Intimacy: Overcompensating boundaries often serve as protective walls to limit vulnerability. This can result in a superficial emotional connection, with both partners never truly showing their authentic selves.
High Emotional Volatility: The relationship might have many highs and lows. Moments of closeness can quickly shift to periods of distance or conflict, especially if something triggers the overcompensating partner’s insecurities.
Constant Testing: The overcompensating partner might continuously “test” the other’s loyalty, love, or commitment, seeking reassurance but never truly feeling secure. This can be draining and frustrating for the other partner.
Defensiveness: Discussions about concerns or issues in the relationship can be challenging. The overcompensating partner might become defensive, perceiving any feedback or concern as an attack on their character or as a sign of impending abandonment.
Walking on Eggshells: The partner not displaying overcompensating behaviors might feel like they’re always walking on eggshells, trying not to trigger the other’s insecurities. This can lead to suppressed emotions and resentment over time.
Unmet Needs: In their bid to cater to or navigate the overcompensating partner’s behaviors, the other partner might neglect their own needs, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction and neglect.
Avoidance: Conflict or challenging discussions might be avoided, with both partners dancing around core issues. This can lead to unresolved problems piling up.
Dependency vs. Push-Pull: The overcompensating partner might swing between moments of intense dependency (clinging, needing reassurance) and moments of pushing the other away (asserting independence, avoiding intimacy). This push-pull dynamic can be confusing and destabilizing.
Externalizing Blame: The overcompensating partner might often externalize blame, attributing relationship challenges solely to external factors or the other partner, without recognizing their role or the underlying insecurities driving their behaviors.

Boundaries That Guard Against the very Intimacy sought
Sadly, the result of being guarded is that meaningful moments for connection are lost. Intimacy thrives on vulnerability and mutual understanding. But when one partner consistently barricades themselves behind walls, they limit the opportunities for genuine closeness and understanding. Intimacy requires that we show up with our entire selves – both strengths and weaknesses. In the words relationship expert Michelle Becker, “How could we possibly feel loved if we don’t let our partners know who we truly are?“.

Who might be more susceptible to relationships with overcompensating boundaries?

Many individuals can get caught up in, and tethered, to relationships marked by overcompensation. Struggles with low self-esteem can lead some to believe they’re undeserving of healthier dynamics. For some, prior toxic relationships can serve to lower expectations, making rigid dynamics feel familiar and acceptable. For others, fears of being alone, a belief in unwavering commitment, or practical dependencies around finances or childcare keep them anchored. Some may avoid confrontations, always prioritize their partner, or devalue their own preferences, mistakenly associating such actions with demonstrations of love and kindness.

The Perspective of Partners Overcompensating their Boundaries

The Comfort in Certainty

In a world where unpredictability can often spell disaster or hurt, drawing clear lines offers comfort. For individuals with rigid boundaries, these lines are not just whims; they’re protective walls built over time. These walls provide a sense of security and predictability, ensuring that the chaos, pain, or trauma from their past doesn’t invade their present.

Past Shadows Cast Long Silhouettes

Each stringent boundary often has a story behind it. It might be the tale of a betrayal, a traumatic event, or a series of disappointments. These past experiences don’t just fade away; they leave imprints on the psyche. For the partner setting these boundaries, they genuinely believe they’re safeguarding both themselves and the relationship. By preempting potential triggers or sources of hurt, they feel they’re navigating away from known pitfalls.

Guarding Vulnerable Corners

While strength is often projected, underneath lies a delicate core. The very areas these boundaries protect are often the most vulnerable aspects of their personality. By keeping certain topics off-limits or setting strict rules around interactions, they’re essentially trying to shield these vulnerable parts from external harm. It’s a protective mechanism, akin to shielding a wound from external irritants.

The Fear of Repeat Histories

There’s an underlying anxiety that history might repeat itself. This fear isn’t unfounded but based on lived experiences. The belief often is that if they can control certain variables, they can prevent past scenarios from playing out again.

Genuine Desire for Relationship Success

While it might seem counterintuitive, the intent behind overcompensating boundaries is often the sincere desire for the relationship to succeed. There’s a belief that by controlling certain elements, they can keep the relationship on a stable, predictable path.

This perspective isn’t about justifying the overstepping of boundaries but understanding the deep-seated reasons behind them. By empathizing with these feelings and fears, the path to healing and establishing healthier boundaries becomes clearer.

Embracing Uncomfortable Change

Understanding the Need for Change

The very realization that there’s a need to adjust and adapt in a relationship marks the beginning of change. For the partner with rigid boundaries, it means acknowledging that certain behaviors might stem from insecurities or past trauma. Conversely, the other partner must recognize the feeling of being stifled or constrained. Understanding these dynamics is the first step in fostering change.

Courage in Confrontation

The path to healthier boundaries is laden with confronting long-held beliefs, fears, and insecurities. It’s about looking oneself in the mirror and acknowledging one’s imperfections and vulnerabilities. For the partner with overcompensating boundaries, it might mean questioning why they hold onto control so fiercely. Do they fear abandonment, betrayal, or being perceived as inadequate? For the other partner, it might involve understanding why they’ve permitted these boundaries to remain. Have they prioritized peace over their well-being? Valued conflict avoidance over autonomy? Both sides must show immense courage in confronting themselves, as well as in challenging and renegotiating the terms of their relationship.

Risking Vulnerability

As both partners confront these internal dynamics and fears, they’ll find themselves in a vulnerable position. Vulnerability, although daunting, can be incredibly transformative. It’s the cradle of intimacy, trust, and deeper understanding. The partner with rigid boundaries needs to risk letting their guard down, opening themselves up to the possibility of getting hurt, but also to deeper intimacy. The other partner should also be honest about their feelings, even if it risks conflict.

Changing Boundaries in Intimate Relationships: Some Examples

Let’s put these three steps into practice using a selection of the examples we discussed earlier in the piece.

Checking a Partner’s Phone:

Understanding the Need for Change: Both partners should recognize that trust is the foundation of any relationship. The partner who feels the urge to check should understand that this impulse may originate from their own insecurities or past experiences, rather than the current partner’s actions. The other partner, on the other hand, should voice their feelings of intrusion and the impact it has on their autonomy and privacy.

Courage in Confrontation: The partner with the impulse to check should open up about their fears or past traumas that prompt this behavior. The other should honestly communicate how such acts make them feel undermined. Both should strive for transparency in their digital lives without compromising privacy.

Risking Vulnerability: This could entail sharing past experiences that led to trust issues or discussing personal boundaries about privacy. The idea isn’t to grant full access but to build a space where both feel secure and trusted. Create checks and balances. Maybe start with agreed-upon transparency measures and gradually reduce them as trust deepens.

Limiting Social Interactions:

Understanding the Need for Change: The partner setting these limitations should introspect on why certain social interactions or friends trigger insecurities. The other partner should express feeling socially stifled and the importance of socializing for their well-being.

Courage in Confrontation: Discuss specific concerns related to certain friends or events. Rather than making blanket rules, focus on addressing individual issues or misconceptions.

Risking Vulnerability: Maybe the anxious partner can occasionally join these social events, facing their discomfort directly. This will not only expose them to their partner’s social world but may also help dispel unfounded fears. Evaluate these boundaries regularly. As trust and understanding grow, restrictions can be relaxed and both can enjoy a fuller, shared social life.

Decision Dominance:

Understanding the Need for Change: The dominant partner should recognize that a relationship thrives on mutual respect and shared decision-making. They must introspect on why they feel the need to dominate decisions. The other partner should assert their need for agency and input in the relationship.

Courage in Confrontation: Open discussions about decisions, big or small, are vital. Why does one feel more “knowledgeable” or “experienced”? What are the fears associated with sharing this power?

Risking Vulnerability: The dominant partner should occasionally step back and let the other take the lead. This can be a learning opportunity for both. The other partner should ensure their voice is heard. Establish regular check-ins to discuss major decisions and ensure both partners feel represented and valued. Rotate roles in decision-making to ensure balance.

From overcompensation to protective boundaries

Shared Journey

Intimate relationships are intricate dances of vulnerability, trust, and growth. Both partners bring unique histories, wounds, and strengths to the table. It’s essential to recognize that boundaries, especially those stemming from past traumas and insecurities, evolve as individuals grow and as the relationship deepens.

While confronting overcompensated boundaries can be challenging, it is also an opportunity. An opportunity for individual healing, for relationship strengthening, and for creating a bond that is based on full presence, understanding, and deep connection.

To the Overcompensating Partner:

Firstly, your feelings are valid, and it’s essential to acknowledge them. The deep-seated fears or insecurities that drive you to set stringent boundaries are rooted in past experiences that may have hurt you. Remember, though, that every relationship is unique, and past experiences don’t define future ones.

Take a step back and reflect. Are the boundaries you’re setting truly about the relationship’s health, or are they protective mechanisms? It’s courageous to confront our inner demons and accept that sometimes, our fears make us act in ways that may not be beneficial for our relationship.

Seeking therapy or counseling can be transformative. It’s an opportunity to address and heal from past traumas and learn healthier ways to express needs and fears. Remember, it’s okay to ask for help. Your journey towards a more balanced relationship dynamic isn’t one you have to walk alone.

To the Partner adapting to Overcompensating Boundaries:

Your patience and commitment to understanding your partner’s feelings, even when they seem challenging, is commendable. However, it’s crucial to recognize the importance of your feelings and rights within the relationship as well.

It can be disheartening when the person you care about sets boundaries that feel restrictive or mistrustful. Remember, their overcompensation is often less about you and more about their past traumas or deep-seated insecurities. This doesn’t excuse any behavior that hurts you, but it provides context.

Engage in open communication. Express your feelings, needs, and concerns, always using “I” statements to avoid sounding accusatory. Consider individual therapy as a safe space to address these issues, your fears, and ways you might unintentionally reinforce the status quo. Couples counseling can offer both partners tools and strategies to remove barriers to intimacy.

Lastly, remember self-care. While it’s admirable to support your partner, ensure you’re also looking after your emotional and mental well-being.

Taking the Steps to reduce Overcompensating Boundaries

Navigating the complexities of boundaries in relationships can be challenging, but you don’t have to face it alone. If these issues resonate with you, seeking therapy can offer valuable insights and coping strategies. Approaches such as schema therapy have shown significant promise in addressing these deep-rooted patterns. Whether you’re seeking individual guidance or couples therapy, identify as the person anxiously searching for safety, or the partner feeling overshadowed, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or a local therapist in your area. We’re here to support you!