Good job! It sounds like you’ve been working hard at this. There’s always room for improvement. That’s why we are here to talk about it I have had a hard time with saying no but I’ve learned to do it. For me, it became easier in some situations but not in others. Sometimes I have no trouble being very firm and direct and other times I still struggle a great deal with it. Family versus work versus social situations all present different kinds of challenges for me. Honestly, sometimes I still use the excuse route and sometimes I’m direct with outright saying no. I’m not afraid to say no anymore, in many cases, but I evaluate each situation differently. Good job on taking care of yourself and with time and practice this will get easier.