f Someone You Love Makes You Act Out Of Guilt, It’s Not A Good Sign – Here’s What To Do!
“I’m old and sick, and I’ll get a heart attack and die if you won’t do what I want.”
“You’re a worthless husband who can’t even buy his wife a new iPhone. Oh wait. You simply don’t love me, right?”
“I nearly died while giving birth to you. Now, be grateful and do what I say”
Have you heard anything like this from your parents or romantic partners?
This is emotional blackmail. And it’s just as bad as the name implies.
Emotional blackmail is a manipulation technique that’s meant to control your actions by tapping into strong emotions such as guilt, obligation, and fear.
It may appear innocent, but in fact it’s a huge red flag. If you give in once or twice, the blackmailer’s demands will become more and more outrageous. For example, they may skillfully isolate you from your social circle or force you to give up things that bring you joy. If they do it slowly enough, you won’t even notice that you’re being cut off from your support network and basically held hostage!
Why do emotional blackmailers try to manipulate you with fear, obligation, and guilt?
First of all, because it’s such an effective manipulation technique! If done skillfully, it can put you under their absolute control.
However, not all emotional blackmailers are inherently evil – some people just don’t know how to talk about their wants and needs in a direct way. Others have a personality disorder that makes them think blackmailing is an acceptable behavior. Of course, this doesn’t mean you should tolerate it!
Your Journey to Healing Starts Here 