Manipulation in relationships is so common that most professional manipulators manage to get away with it, due to their ingenious ways and ability to subtle persuasion.

Have you ever wondered if this has happened to you without you even realizing it?

It usually starts with small things. One day, you wake up and realize that you’ve recently done things you wouldn’t normally do but you’re not too bothered about it yet, so you ignore it.

Don’t think about it too much and just go about your day. Then you start to feel like your partner is starting to twist and twist your words and use them against you.

You feel violated and completely surprised that he is so sneaky doing this.

Master manipulators have a way of doing things that makes everything seem like it’s completely your fault.

It makes you feel absolutely crazy and question your judgement.

You feel like everything you do and say is starting to bite you in the ass because he always makes it seem like you have malicious intent, when in reality he is the one turning everything you say and do against you.

You start to feel helpless and like you no longer have control over what you do or say, and it feels like an endless pit you can’t escape from.

Manipulation in relationships is usually evident in a partner who seems to be in your head all the time and before you know it, is making all your decisions for you.

But he’s so cunning at doing it that you don’t realize it until it’s too late!

Some manipulators are so skilled that you almost can’t catch them in the act, but if you feel like this might be happening to you, stay tuned, as I’ve compiled a list of the most common signs of manipulation in relationships that will help you get there. The bottom of this!

If you recognize these signs and admit to yourself that you are being manipulated, you can train yourself to fight it and stop it once and for all!

bullying

At first, it seems like he’s joking, but when you think about it, he’s not laughing with you, he’s actually laughing at you.

The tone in which he speaks and that look in his eyes tells you he is not joking. Through bullying, he wants to make sure that you are “obedient” and that he has the upper hand.

You don’t even realize it but his jokes are a big red flag because he’s actually manipulating you into thinking you’re less worthy or that you’re bad at something.

Why? Well, when the person you love repeats these things every day, it simply begins to become normal, as it has always been that way.

You can’t say no

You simply cannot say no. No matter how many times you try, just the thought of turning down a request from your partner scares you.

Saying no seems like a crazy idea.

You feel weak and helpless every time you try to disobey him, even though you’re not really sure why.

Sometimes, it’s impossible for you to do the things he asks of you and you know the right thing is to say “no” but at the same time, it seems like you can’t bring yourself to say it.

The creepiest thing about this is that it makes you feel like a bad person if you say no!

He seems to have good intentions (which is never true) and if you say no, you’re the one with a problem.

So you always end up saying yes because he knows exactly how to manipulate you into doing anything he chooses without seeming manipulative or bossy.

You justify your actions

Not just yours but his too. You try to find a reason for the way you both act.

It’s as if you’re always trying to find an excuse to do whatever he asks of you.

You also want to justify his behavior, as if he needs something from you and you are the only one who can give him that.

Even to you, the explanations seem terrible but you keep finding them and justifying your behavior and his.

This is his way of doing things. Makes you make excuses for him!

You know this isn’t true but it would be easier if you tried to believe yourself that there might be a good explanation for his behavior, even though there never is.

If you really love me..

This shows how bad your partner really is. If he makes you do things by saying, “If you loved me, you would do this for me,” I don’t know why you’re still with him.

This sentence means that he equates your love with what you do for him.

The most common thing men use this phrase is sex, which makes you think that sex is the only true sign of love.

“If you really love me…” is kind of obvious, but he can also put the same request into different words that have the same meaning.

This is one of the most common and dangerous. He uses your emotions and pushes you to do things for him because he knows just where to get to the place that hurts you the most.

A person who loved you would never use your love as an excuse to blackmail you into doing anything.

Always remember this! This man does not love you, he is just using you for his own satisfaction.

You blame yourself

No matter how many times someone tells you it wasn’t your fault, you can’t stop blaming yourself because in your mind you are a bad partner.

You feel bad for taking time to relax because in your head you should be with your partner, making them happy.

And that’s how he gets you. It works its way into your head and stays there as long as you don’t obey its every exact command.

When you start blaming yourself for doing something outside of the relationship and having a real life outside of it, realize that this is his way of playing mind games with you.

You have every right to do what you want and spend your time with whoever you want, and when you feel like a bad person for that, know that this is the time to admit to yourself what is happening and confront it head-on.

Emotional blackmail

My dear, emotional blackmail is the worst type of manipulation. It is disguised as care and love but in reality it is terrible.

Telling someone, “I’ll die without you,” is like telling them that if they leave, you’ll explode and kill yourself.

Of course it will make you feel bad, like you are responsible if they kill themselves.

But please realize that anyone’s well-being is not your sole responsibility. Do not take responsibility for someone else’s bad or low behavior or threats!

If he wants to do something, he will do it regardless of you, so never let him make you feel responsible for his happiness. And it’s all on him!

Mind manipulation

Gaslighting is a common method of manipulation.

It’s usually obvious, if you pay attention and look for the signs.

For example, he says you didn’t say anything or he didn’t say anything, or he reinvents the past and makes up new scenarios that make you think you’ve completely lost your mind.

If he’s been doing this for some time now, you’ll feel like you can’t even trust your own mind, so you start trusting him completely.

You feel like you need your partner by your side to feel sane, and you seem to lose it when he’s not around.

He is the person who keeps you in check and only next to him do you feel sane and normal.

Comfortable need

Let’s say you and your partner need to go somewhere but you know he doesn’t really want to come with you, so he suddenly starts feeling under the weather and can’t seem to go.

Or you need him to clean up because he made a complete mess in the house but suddenly he has a throbbing headache and can’t move from the couch or listen to your screams.

That’s why it’s called the comfortable need. It only happens when the manipulator needs it as a way out of something!

This is easy to spot, so if this is happening in your relationship, recognize it and put an end to it.