#howtorecognizemanipulation

[jointhebottle]

I found myself obsessing about how to recognize manipulation. In my life I’ve been manipulated so many times, people would say I’m stupid for being unaware of how I was treated. People would say I’m too gullible, too naive, who can’t recognize manipulation tactics. It sounds pathetic and I badly want to change that narrative. I don’t want to stay as a victim and be a pushover forever. I WANT POWER. I have this fear of being a loser and fall back as a victim again and again. This time, I want to WIN. Whenever trauma kicks in, it hits me hard, makes me want to be detached from people and be alone forever. Fear makes me think as if love never exists. I don’t know how my brain exaggerates like this. But then part of me believes in the saying that goes.. “no man is an island.” I can live without connections but it would be a dull life for sure. Thinking about it makes me feel unsafe.. lonely,, empty. Looks like a smarter choice would be to stay connected with people I love BUT avoid being a pushover. Think of other solution instead of detaching myself and wallow in my own feelings forever. So, i asked myself, how will I recognize manipulative people around me? What are the signs of manipulation? How to DEAL with it? Am I manipulative too? Maybe I’m the problem, am I?

Then, lots of questions raised in my mind, googled some of these to get some answers and tips but also I think it’d be more interesting to talk to an expert and tell me facts and ideas about this topic.

Also, I want to share these thoughts with my loved ones and hopefully get some favorable feedback from them. I feel like some of these people around me (even my closest friends and family) are doing it without even recognizing their behavior. Sharing it would probably help us be reminded of what manipulation is and how to deal with it.

All these thoughts are coming from FEAR. Fear from failure. Fear of rejection. Fear of not being good enough. Fear of losing. Fear of not living the best life that I imagined having.

And that fear was triggered by a dream. ☁️

💡 🧠 🧨