Emotional blackmail is not a pleasant thing to encounter, and many of us succumb to it without even realizing it at various stages in our lives. The truth is that there are many manipulative people out there, who seem to thrive on getting a one-up over someone they deem to be vulnerable and/or they feel they can take something from.
As a result, emotional blackmail is something you should do your utmost to avoid. If you think you’re already in such a situation, you need to be able to recognize the signs to identify emotional blackmail and put an end to it. Here is our guide to dealing with emotional blackmail:
Red Flag Situations
1. If you always seem to end up apologizing for your actions even though you know you did nothing wrong.
2. If your partner or spouse never takes no for an answer.
3. If you always end up giving in to your spouse or partner’s wishes at the expense of your own.
4. If the amount of times you make sacrifices for your partner or spouse far outweighs the number of times they do the same for you.
5. If you’re being intimidated or threatened into abiding by your spouse or partner’s wishes.
The Typical Emotional Blackmail Tactic
A book entitled “Emotional Blackmail”, written by Susan Forward and Donna Frazier, theorizes that those who use emotional blackmail employ a Fear --> Emotion --> Guilt tactic.
The first stage involves the manipulator making the victim fear, anger or disappoint them. In turn, this makes the victim feel obligated to meet their demands. If the victim fails to comply, then the result is feelings of guilt being instilled by the manipulator for not abiding by his or her wishes.
All of this is done very subtly – the manipulator uses tactics to appeal to the victim’s sensibilities. They make their demands seem reasonable, and make the victim feel selfish if they aren’t given what they want.
If you feel that you’re the victim of FOG tactics by your partner or spouse, ask someone who you’re close to give you a different perspective on your relationship by telling you what they see from the outside.
Vulnerable Individuals
Individuals who are most vulnerable to emotional blackmail are the ones who have trouble saying “no”. If you think you’re one of those people, you need to allow yourself to get comfortable with the thought of refusing or rebutting that which you are not content with doing. Think about the tone of voice you’ll use to utter the little word in the future, as well as the words you’ll use to reflect empowerment and help you feel more in control of the situations you’re likely to face.
How to Put a Stop to Emotional Blackmail
1. Prioritize your wants, needs and preferences over those of your partner.
2. Set clear boundaries that cannot be overstepped in any circumstances.
3. Realize that although you may love your partner very much, your well-being comes first. Share your personal priorities and make compromises accordingly.
4. Remember that giving in to emotional blackmail will only make your situation worse.
5. If your partner or spouse is threatening you with physical violence, or alluding to threats of physical violence, leave immediately and alert the authorities of the threats being leveled against you.
6. Reach out to your social support system and seek professional help if you need to.
Content Source: ThriveWorks
This Study Shows Where People Need to Be Touched
Touching is vital for human development in children, and it's also vital for the strength of familial and romantic relationships. Learn more here.
10 Simple Solutions to Removing Paint Stains From Clothes
Got paint stains on your clothes but not sure how to remove them? Here's what to do.
Be Sure to Read This if You're Planning a Cookout Soon!
Most people love a good cookout, but that doesn't mean that mistakes don't get made when grilling. Here are 12 common grilling mistakes that everyone makes.
5 Signs You Might Be Developing Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis is a debilitating disease, but you can spot it early if you know how to. Learn 5 tell-tale signs of the onset of Multiple Sclerosis.
Maintain Your Credibility By Avoiding the Following Words
There are certain words that many of us tend to use habitually. Unfortunately we use them to our detriment, as they harm our credibility. Find out more.
Make Sure Never To Use a Vacuum On These Household Items
Vacuum cleaners are the most effective tool against spills and messes but it can have disastrous results if you decide to clean up these spills with a vacuum
20 Wonderful Life Quotes for Women’s Month
These 20 thoughtful quotes span centuries of phenomenal women thinkers, so let's honor them and ourselves by reading them thoughtfully.
7 Overlooked Daily Habits That Drain Your Energy
All seven of these often overlooked habits can make your energy levels plummet, even if your overall lifestyle is healthy.
May These Words Inspire You as Much as They Did For Me
Truly inspiring! It only takes one person to change the world.
Inspirational Poem: Life Can Be a Struggle. Are You Ready?
These sentimental words will provide you with plenty of inspiration to face the day and every day that follows.
Erma Bombeck: "If I Had My Life to Live Again..."
When writer Erma Bombeck discovered she didn't have long left to live, she composed this searingly personal but beautiful message I think we can all learn from.
Would You Call God If He Had a Phone Number? Inspiring!
Each night, before I sleep, I converse with God. This is what I say.
This is How You Read a Palm: A Simple Guide
The art of palm reading considered one of the oldest mystical arts in the world. Get to know yourself and others with the help of this simple guide!
Wishing You a Happy & Prosperous NEW YEAR!
Wish the important people in your life a Happy New Year by sending them one of these greeting cards.
Egyptian Pantheon: 11 Powerful and Fascinating Gods
In this article, you will learn of 11 of the most powerful, lasting and popular gods of Ancient Egypt.
12 Spirit Sapping Bad Habits Aging Taught Me to Let Go of...
Here are some important life lessons that I have learned.
A Few Words of Inspiration Can Go a Long Way...
Some good advice to help you along in life.
Here's Some Precious Advice You'll Really Thank Me For...
We all have regrets, but that's no excuse for not getting rid of bad habits today. Here are 5 things you should do to make sure you look back on life kindly.
The Parable of the Survivor: Why You Should Never Give Up
We may sometimes feel like the world is falling down on us but this next parable will make clear why in moments like this you shouldn't give up.
Because Sometimes it's Hard to find the Right Words...
We all have someone in our lives who mean so much to us that we can hardly find the words. Sending them this video will let them know how you feel about them.
What are the ABCs of Being a True Friend?
What make a truly good friend? The ABC of friendship of course!
There's No Message as Important as This One...
This message will inspire you to live the life that you truly want to live.
A Few Words About Life North of 50...
50 is just a beginning, there is much to learn and experience before and after it...
In Tough Times These Quotes Will Help You Find Balance
It's easy to get caught up in a chaotic lifestyle, but these 10 inspiring quotes will help you find your balance.
Relationship Corner: How to Bring Down Our Emotional Wall
This article will help you understand how harmful emotional walls are and how they can be brought down.
This Beautiful Story Will Teach You to Value Yourself!
This beautiful story has an ingenious lesson to share.
How to Make Yourself Mentally Tougher
What does it take to be mentally strong? This is what it takes to be a mentally tough person.
Man Builds a Wildlife Pond on His Property - Fascinating!
This man built a safe haven for wildlife on his property. You won't believe what happened next!
How to Completely Detoxify Your Mind
It's not just your home that can do with a good clean every once in a while, your mind should regularly require one too. Find out more here.
When I Heard This Story, My Eyes Were Filled With Tears
A beautiful story that both gladdens and saddens the heart.
This Story Will Touch Your Heart and Make You Think
Here's a story about a husband who missed something very important in his life. This is a story we could all learn something from.
This Beautiful Tale has a Strong Lesson to Teach Us All
This inspirational tale tells the story of a young woman who got advice from a wise old storyteller. This moral is one we can all learn from.
I Hope You Enjoy These Beautiful Quotes About Friendship
It can be hard to sum up what your friendships mean to you in normal words. That's what makes these beautiful quotations all the more special.
10 Tips for Success by Spiritual Teacher Robin Sharma
Robin Sharma, the author of "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari," shares his 10 tips for success in this article!
I Hope These Beautiful Thoughts Will Bless Your Day...
Start your day with a few positive, inspiring and beautiful thoughts.
Take Part in This Guided Morning Meditation For Beginners
Read this article to learn how to perform a morning meditation session, and find out what you can gain from it. Found this meditation guide interesting? Make sure to share it with your friends, too!
Please Don't Forget These Important Reminders in Life...
We should always remember the most important things in life, and we should always share them with the ones we love.
Love Yourself: 12 Inspiring Quotes for Happiness
Self love an acceptence are important but don't always come easy. We hope these quotes will inspire you and remind you to be a little kinder to yourslef.
30 Things We HAVE to Stop Doing to Ourselves
the things we should stop doing to ourselves to gain the joy that we deserve!
Fascinating: When an Old Soldier Meets a Young One
In this video, we have an old soldier and a young soldier bridging the gap and talking about how each one of them perceived war and his role in it.
Quote Collection: 40 Beautiful Thoughts About Life...
Here are 40 simple yet powerful thoughts about being alive. These beautiful quotes are bound to put you in a positive and productive mood...
A Zen Tale: This Story Taught Me a Great Life Lesson
Everyone of us will be able to relate to this story.
Paulo Coelho Had Many an Inspiring Word to Share with Us
Paulo Coelho uttered many a phrase that humanity has a lot to learn from. Read this post to gain an insight into his perspective and wisdom.
Choose a Jewel to Learn What it Says About You...
take a look at the pictures of jewelry and select the one that resonates with you the most.
Here's a Powerful Thought About Christmas to Bear in Mind...
While I wish you a merry Christmas, here's a meaningful thought I would like you to remember...
These Words on Being Kind Will Bring a Tear to Your Eye
Every now and then, when things get tough, take a deep breath and read these quotes to remind yourself of all the kindness in the world.
Inspiring: 10 Things We Can All Learn from Trees...
Arbor day and similar holidays allow us to remember the beauty of trees, but it is also an opportunity to learn a lesson or two about life.