15 Ways to Deal with an Emotionally Manipulative Partner

To deal with an emotionally manipulative partner, you first have to understand what emotional manipulation means. Many people are emotionally manipulated in their relationships without realizing it.

What is emotional manipulation?

Emotional manipulation is the act of taking advantage of someone’s weaknesses to control their emotions while playing the victim to avoid guilt or blame. Emotional manipulators are aware of their actions, but in order to avoid being blamed, they will deliberately shift the guilt onto their victims. In other words, they will hurt you but still act like they are the one being hurt.

Most of the time, people are manipulated unconsciously in relationships. They apologize even when they did nothing, they upset themselves from time to time just to please their partner, but it all goes to no purpose. Instead of being appreciated, they are criticized. Manipulators are no different than narcissists.

How to identify an emotionally manipulative partner.

Not sensitive.

If you’re dating someone who makes random decisions or tries to do things without considering your feelings or consent, this can be a big sign. It takes two to tango. In relationships, mutual support sparks bonds. Emotionally manipulative partners don’t care much about your feelings. They only care about themselves and what makes them happy.

They are almost unwilling to admit their mistakes.

Emotionally manipulative partners will never admit they are wrong, but will do whatever it takes to make you feel guilty for their mistakes. I think this is one of their main traits. Their traits are like crying harder than the person who lost a loved one. They hurt you while making you feel cruel just to control your emotions without feeling any guilt.

They use your insecurities against you.

They will intentionally do things to trigger your insecurities in the relationship and then turn around and blame you for your unnecessary insecurities, possessiveness, and jealousy.

Even if you know that their attitude makes you question their true feelings, even if you are not truly happy in the relationship, even if your self-esteem is threatened, you can’t help but feel guilty because you may be overreacting to the whole situation. This is what manipulation can do.

They are bullies.

Being bullied doesn’t have to be physical. Sometimes, it can be emotional. When someone tries to control you and not give you the opportunity to express your thoughts and feelings, this can be considered bullying, and emotional manipulators often do this.

How to know if you are being emotionally manipulated.

You are always vulnerable.

Vulnerability is one of the main signs that you are being emotionally manipulated. One of the signs of an ideal partner is someone who is able and willing to protect the one they love at all costs, but instead of protecting you, they make you feel hurt and insecure from time to time.

You lose confidence.

When you are being manipulated by your emotions, you lose every right to express your thoughts or have an opinion. You just nod and agree with every decision they make. At some point, you may start to lose yourself in the process.

You can’t say “no”.

This is synonymous with a loss of confidence and self. They have this persuasive and domineering quality that makes it hard to say no or resist them. When you feel this way, it is a sign of being emotionally manipulated. People who emotionally manipulate others do this in order to get you to comply with whatever they ask of you, regardless of how it makes you feel.

They always use your weaknesses to attack you.

Taking advantage of your flaws to make you feel bad and apologize for their behavior is one of the telltale signs of a manipulative partner. Sometimes, their flaws may even be worse than yours, but you condone their behavior because you respect them, and unfortunately, they take advantage of that when it comes to your behavior.

They make you feel like it’s a favor to date them.

Being in a relationship should be an exciting adventure for both parties, however, when it feels like one person is doing the other a favor

it becomes a manipulative behavior. The person being manipulated will feel neglected from time to time.

How to deal with an emotionally manipulative partner.

Don’t reveal too much about yourself.

One of the weapons that emotionally manipulative partners often use to take advantage of their partners’ weaknesses is to exploit their partners’ weaknesses. No matter how emotional you are, try not to show your emotions until you are sure of your partner’s personality. Keep your emotions hidden, especially when you notice any signs of manipulation, to avoid them becoming heated.

Set your boundaries.

To deal with an emotionally manipulative partner, you must learn to set boundaries from the beginning. Don’t give in to any opinions or decisions. Know when to draw the line, know when to stick to your guns, know when to say no and mean it. Ask them to give you space, and give them space when necessary.

Keep your emotions stable.

You can’t handle an emotionally manipulative partner if you’re too caught up in your own emotions. People with manipulative traits need someone strong enough to challenge their ego. Don’t be weak with emotions. Guide your heart at all costs. Don’t sit around doing nothing, no matter how much you love them. Prioritize your mental health by keeping your emotions in check.

Learn to appreciate yourself.

When you don’t love yourself, manipulation becomes much easier. People who don’t think highly of themselves are easily manipulated because they don’t know their own worth. They tend to accept anything that’s thrown at them because they fear rejection. This rejection stems from low self-esteem. To deal with an emotionally manipulative partner, a person must learn to self-evaluate when they are rejected.

Stop making unnecessary apologies.

Being too soft and accommodating in a relationship doesn’t always work, especially when you’re trying to deal with an emotionally manipulative partner. I understand you’re trying to make peace with your relationship, I understand you’re trying to secure your relationship, however, whatever your reasons, it’s wrong to do all of this at the expense of your happiness and mental health. If it’s necessary to secure a relationship, it should be a mutual effort.

If peace is to be achieved in a relationship, it requires willingness and effort from both parties. The more you make excuses by apologizing and admitting your mistakes, the more they will continue to emotionally manipulate you while playing the victim. Sometimes, it is good to give them a taste of their own medicine, which will earn you more respect.

Practice emotional detachment…

Sometimes, emotional detachment is the best and last resort for dealing with an emotionally manipulative partner.

Manipulators often use the fact that you are emotionally attached to them to control you. The more they manipulate you, the weaker you become and the more you fall into their arms because you like them so much that you just have to fall back into their arms.

Your love for them is good and it’s normal to feel that way, but you should also consider that they are using that love against you. They don’t care about your feelings and they have no real love for you. They only care about their own selfish interests.

Face them.

This can be an effective way to deal with emotional manipulation, it may not guarantee that they will change for the better, but it is better for them to realize that you understand their behavior and you will not take anything from them anymore.

It’s very common! You don’t have to be afraid of breaking up, just remember that this kind of relationship is not good for your mental health and continuing it for too long may cause emotional instability.

Create your distance.

As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Perhaps, the emotional manipulation may be due to your insecurities and your desire for attention. It’s time to use reverse psychology. Turn the tables and make them the ones who crave attention. This way, you no longer give them the opportunity to manipulate your feelings. Creating distance and space may not be easy, but in the end, it’s worth it if you can muster the courage and discipline to adopt this approach.

Go away.

Most of the time, leaving ends up being the best way to deal with an emotionally manipulative partner, especially when you’ve tried other methods and nothing worked.

Being emotionally manipulated can be a sign that someone doesn’t want to be with you or confront you with the truth.

So they do this to bring you down so that eventually you will initiate the breakup yourself and they act like a victim to avoid guilt. Know when to walk away, you deserve someone who gives you the utmost respect and treats you like they are glad to have you.

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