Experts say: knowing how to say ‘no’ is beneficial for your mental health

The simple act of saying “no” can be difficult for many people. Sometimes, we agree to do things that go against our essence and will just to avoid upsetting someone.

However, doing so can be detrimental to the mental health of both those who cannot say no and those who always get what they want. With this in mind, experts say that the need to be accepted subjects us to conflicting situations.

Therefore, on these occasions, we put the other person’s interests above our own, often causing frustration in various choices.

Associated factors and risks

Psychoanalysis professor Ronaldo Coelho points out that saying “no” helps develop a kind of emotional muscle. In this way, it helps combat frustration and helps us deal with situations of denial.

The professor, together with psychologist Maycon Rodrigo Torres, states that the lack of denial can erase people’s judgment about their own desires.

As a result, the individual is forced to feel the need to be accepted by others and becomes incapable of making important decisions in his or her own life. This is because he or she always feels pressured by the fear of being judged by others.

This can impact different areas, such as the workplace or studies. Psychologist and specialist Luana Ganzert explains that the lack of practice of saying “no” is associated with the development of insecurity, anxiety and low self-esteem, even affecting people’s financial lives.

Tips for learning to say no

Not everyone has the natural ability to say no, but it can be developed. In her book “Yes or No – The Difficult Art of Putting Yourself First in Your Life”, psychologist Gislene Erbs gives tips on how to learn to say “no” without putting your mental health at risk and without acting rudely.

Based on years of study and clinical practice, Gislene was able to develop methods to deal with the frustration of not saying no. For her, one of the first steps is to accept that saying “no” is not related to selfishness or bad manners, but rather to imposing limits and respecting one’s own wishes.

The psychologist also states that it is necessary to recognize some factors that lead to this. Among them are low self-esteem, fear of rejection, anxiety, lack of social skills, among others.

The author of the book suggests that people first try to understand what their true desires are and that they value themselves, developing self-knowledge and self-esteem.