It’s easy to convince yourself that you can look past the bad in order to cherish the good, but what if what you’re choosing to ignore is abuse? Here are seven signs that your partner doesn’t just occasionally do the wrong thing, he’s an emotional manipulator.
You’ve been forced to isolate yourself
Don’t be fooled by a partner who claims that he just loves spending all of his time with you because it’s just a charming manipulation tactic. You have to make room for other people in your life on your own terms.
You’re constantly criticized
From your appearance to the way you spend your time, your life as a whole is not an invitation for ridicule. You should never life your life in fear of what your partner will criticize next because this will only lead to self-hate.
You feel humiliated in the company of others
Whether your partner’s behavior is obvious to others or you’ve been torn down in a way that makes you ashamed, this is a sign of an unhealthy dynamic. The way you feel around others is a great indication of how you truly feel about how you’re being treated.
You believe that you’re inadequate
In this case you have to consider how your self-perception has changed since meeting your partner. You cannot expose yourself to a relationship that forces you away from trusting your worth.
You get blamed for everything
Never feel guilty for the things you haven’t done, or the things that aren’t in your control. Nothing proves abuse more than a relationship that forces you to feel that you are at fault for every situation that takes place.
You begin to feel crazy
Also known as “gaslighting,” this form of emotional abuse involves your partner denying events in a way that makes you question your sanity. This is hard to spot at first, but it’s absolutely a reason to end the relationship.
You associate speaking up with punishment
If you dread any form of confrontation because you believe that it will inevitably lead to an unwarranted fight, you have to get out. Your voice is your power, and losing it will take away your sense of self.
You do everything in your power to make excuses
You know it’s abuse when you can’t even admit it to yourself out of fear that your partner will detect a change of heart. You have to trust yourself as the first step to setting yourself free.
Sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/traversing-the-inner-terrain/201609/when-is-it-emotional-abuse
https://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/emotional-psychological-abuse/emotional-abuse-definitions-signs-symptoms-examples/
https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/other-types/emotional-and-verbal-abuse
