Manipulation is more common in relationships today than ever. With the rise in social media and the decline in interpersonal relationship skills, people are being more and more manipulative.

The worst part of being manipulated in a relationship is that quite often you don’t even know it’s happening. Manipulative people twist your thoughts, actions, wants and desires into something that better suits how they see the world and they mold you into someone that serves their own purposes.

Here are a few signs;

They make you feel guilty…for everything

Manipulation always start with guilt. If they can convince you to feel guilty for your actions (even when you’ve done nothing wrong), then chances are they know you’ll be more willing to do what they say.

Manipulators also try and make you believe that they’re doing a better job of “loving you,” so that you’ll be more willing to set aside what you want in order to feel like you “love him just as much.” It’s a sick mind game.

They convince you you’re wrong

Manipulators often hold themselves to a higher level. Although secretly insecure, they come off as if they are smarter than you.

One of the biggest signs of manipulation in a relationship is when their response when you share an opinion, claim they said something earlier, or even question where something went. In their defense, manipulators will twist the story around, make exaggerated excuses to justify their behavior, and will not give up until you admit you were the wrong one. 

They make you responsible for their emotions

Manipulators are ironic in the sense that they spend quite a bit of time making you feel as if you can’t think for yourself but then turn around and make you responsible for all of their emotions. If they feel sad, it’s probably because you made them feel that way. If they’re angry, well, you had better check yourself because you obviously did something wrong.

For as much as they take away from you and for as much as they make you believe that you’re totally incapable of controlling your own life, they expect you to be responsible for how they feel.