I’m Just A Girl Who Can Say No

woman says stop final

Remember the song in the musical Oklahoma “I’m Just A Girl Who Can’t Say No”? Aldo Annie is a woman who simply couldn’t turn down male attention against her better judgement. Offstage, saying “No” is an essential skill in the dating/relationship arena and in most areas of our lives.

What’s so hard about saying no, especially for women, is that it can disappoint, hurt, and anger the person you are saying it to. Women want to play nice and we worry that when we say no we won’t be liked.

Having trouble saying no is a socially learned “coping mechanism” that can be unlearned. Practicing saying no is the way to become more comfortable with saying it. Kathryn J Lively Ph.D. suggests: say no, give a reason, and let it go. Say no, give a reason, and let it go. Try it! It gets easier.

Picture of Helen Leff, LCSW

Helen Leff, LCSW

Helen Leff, LCSW, has held a Master's Degree in Social Work with over 25 years of experience. Throughout her career as a mental health professional, Helen has endeavored to take a holistic view in understanding the needs of individuals as well as incorporating the larger family and social dynamics effecting them. A tireless advocate, Helen’s greatest professional satisfaction comes from helping those in need to develop self-empowerment skills to take greater control of their situations and to become their own best ally, adviser, and advocate.
All Posts

A safe and comfortable place to discuss vaginismus

The vaginismus forum at Maze Women’s Health is designed to bring women together. We understand that painful sex, vaginismus treatment, and the subsequent recovery can be sensitive topics, and you should have a safe and comfortable place to voice your experience, opinions, and concerns.

We envision this vaginismus forum as a place for you to introduce yourself, share your personal story, ask questions, and discuss any and all aspects of vaginismus, including our treatment options. We sincerely hope that you find this to be a comfortable place to discuss your struggles and triumphs as you navigate through vaginismus treatment. Talking through these issues with women that have gone through it can make all the difference.

Recent Posts

Categories
Archives

Share article