Six Tips to Spot Emotional Manipulation
How to Empower Yourself with Awareness This Holiday Season
Six Tips to Spot the Signs of Emotional Manipulation - How to Empower Yourself with Awareness this Holiday Season
Emotional manipulation: it's the covert weapon Aunt Sally uses at the dinner table to guilt-trip you into doing the dishes, again. But hey, it's not all fun and games when your family turns into a psychological battlefield. We’ve all been there and frankly, it sucks.
Let's cut to the chase. Here are the telltale signs your family members are attempting to manipulate you and mess with your mind:
1. The "Truth" Mirage (denying your reality):
Your brother promised he would take care of the group gift for your parents but when you ask him about it, he denies the truth and says he never committed to it. Suddenly, it's your memory that's a little shaky, not his backtracking. They'll make you feel like you're losing your grip on reality faster thansoap slipping out of your hand. This is also a form of gaslighting.
2. Guilt Trip Central:
Manipulative people use guilt trips like pros! They'll pinpoint your vulnerabilities and then play the victim card, leaving you feeling like you kicked a puppy for not succumbing to their manipulation. Refuse to comply? Congratulations, you're now labeled as cold and heartless. Any attempt to set boundaries or share authentic feelings will likely be met with more criticism.
3. The Drama Triangle:
Emotional manipulators won’t confront you to your face, they will use your friends and other family members to hurt you behind your back. They will use these people to send you hurtful messages or to blame you for their issues. By involving another person, they’re able to blame someone else for the message being misinterpreted and continue to be the victim.
4. Anger and threats:
Family members can use their anger and threats to manipulate you. An emotional manipulator uses anger to frighten and coerce people. Threats and angry outbursts are used to make the other person feel uncomfortable and upset. Emotional manipulators often use anger to interrupt or stop a conversation they don’t like.
5. Belittling tactics:
Family members may try to belittle you, so they can manipulate you easier. They'll toss around criticisms and highlight your flaws like it's a sport. The endgame? Making you feel like powerless and small so you’ll be easier to control.
6. Focus on vulnerable targets:
Manipulators seek out sensitive people because it’s easier to influence them. They deliberately look for people who are vulnerable and insecure. They can spot your insecurities and use them. In the beginning, emotional manipulators may even seem kind and concerned as they gather information about you. However, this quickly changes to control.
Sensitive people are more likely to become victims of family members who want to control them. They’re less likely to stand up for themselves or speak out against the manipulators. It’s important to spot these signs in a relationship.
Remember, spotting these tactics is the first step to emotional freedom. Don't let your family turn into a psychological circus. Stand tall, call out the tricks, and if things get too wild, seek a referee—because, honestly, who needs this drama over Christmas dinner?
I hope those tips help and I hope you have a “trauma-drama free” holiday! Looking for a quick and dirty parenting tip? Check it out below!
Weekly Quick & Dirty Parenting Tip: The Secret Phase
When your child asks you for something or pushes against something, rather than telling them why they should eat their vegetables or why they can’t have ice-cream for breakfast, PAUSE and then state CLEARLY and FACTUALLY what they want or don’t want:
“You really want…..” OR “You really don’t want….”
STOP lecturing, threatening, bribing or convincing. Sometimes kids just want to have an opinon and be heard. Listen respectfully and reflect back to them what they want without judgement, no matter how ridiculous it may be:)
Try it and let us know how it goes by leaving a comment below!
***This tip is just one from dozens of transformational parenting tools in my new Crack the Cooperation Starter Kit!
Want to learn more? Join me for a FREE Parent Strategy call!
Do you know someone who could benefit from this article? Please feel free to share it below:
Are you ready to transform your life and finally become the bad-ass you were born to be? If you want to heal your codependency, empower yourself and break the cycle - join my Cycle Breaker Parenting Revolution by taking the first step towards empowerment!
