“There are those whose primary ability is to spin wheels of manipulation. It is their second skin and without these spinning wheels, they simply do not know how to function.” – C. JoyBell C.
Coming to terms with having been manipulated by the person closest to you is one of the biggest challenges you can face in life.
Loving a person who has betrayed you and has smashed your heart into pieces seems impossible and yet, for many people, it is hard to leave a manipulative abuser.
If you don’t wish to end up in that situation, keep your eyes open for the following 5 signs that you’re dealing with a manipulator before it is too late.
1. Your relationships with others are not functioning properly
In many cases, manipulation is a step by step process that you will not notice unfolding. The abuser will try to keep you away from your loved ones because they want total control over you. They want you to be dependent on them so that you won’t have anyone else to turn to. And at some point, you will wake up with the realization that you have completely withdrawn from the people who care for you the most.
2. You stopped doing the things that you once loved doing
Manipulators are people desperate for attention. They want your full and undivided attention. They want you to do all the things they ask of you and agree with everything they say. And when you focus solely on them, you will forget all about yourself and your own needs and wants. You will be unrecognizable even to yourself.
3. You cannot recall the last time you felt truly happy and calm
The manipulator will abuse you by putting you through never-ending stress. You will worry 24/7 whether you will say or do something wrong. They will have you count every step you take and you will forget about the time you truly felt happy and at peace.
4. You have a negative attitude towards yourself
Manipulative types tend to be overbearing and dominant. They are in addition highly judgmental and will criticize you in every way possible. No matter what you do, it won’t be good enough for them. They do this to make you feel small and insignificant. When a person has been subject to such abuse, their whole perception of themselves changes and they start seeing themselves in a negative light.
5. You feel emotionally brittle
The manipulator will use all of the dirty techniques at their disposal in order to make others feel emotionally unstable. They will make you doubt yourself and how you see reality. They will destroy your self-esteem, and you will start losing your own sanity. Thankfully, once you walk away from your manipulator, your sense of self-worth will return to you and your life will find harmony and balance once again.
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