Assertive behaviour is all you have. There is nothing else. You are not other people and they are not you. If you are stuck in an institutional sandtrap, you have nothing else but assertive behaviour to get yourself out of it.
It may seem counterintuitive that where control and coercive control the central theme of an institutional sandtrap, even if you could control and manipulate other people to assist yourself to remove yourself from a situation, each of those persons has the right to assert themselves as they see fit.
It is all about rights and their preservation. Know and understand your rights, stand your ground, remove yourself form harms-way where you can and maintain your inner peace. Being assertive is sometimes regarded as being insular and not effecting change or being political. This isn't true. If your want, need and desire is for freedom and happiness, then it is up to you to assert that right, and by taking whatever necessary precautions to maintain your health, safety and well-being, and that of others.
This may require you to take actions which others perceive has aggressive, however where Tit-for-Tat is regarded as the most effective way to maintain your rights, if you offer a Tit for every Tat, where you can, and do not push past that position, then it may be successfully argued that you protected your rights by demonstrating how yours were violated by others.
Each person values their rights and rights under law. Assertive behaviour is subjective in that regard. What you must decide is at what price are you willing to downplay your rights while, within an institutional sandtrap, allowing others to willfully exploit your rights as if they do not exist.
They exist. You are entitled to them, and you have nothing else but assertive behaviour to ride upon. So adopt it as a way of life. Offer peace, love, fellowship, relaxing of your rights where appropriate, however when and if you need them, assert your rights and with all the bravery and determination you need or are capable of to enjoy the freedom for that peace, love and fellowship and as you need it.
Take solace that others have come before you, and carry their rights with them wherever they go, because sometimes we need reminding, these are our rights:
