Manipulation can turn into a toxic behavioral pattern in the relationship. It’s best to address manipulation as soon as possible. The longer you ignore it, the harder it will be to acknowledge the behavior and change it.
Handling manipulation in a relationship comes down to 3 things:
Introspection
The first step, introspection, is to look inside yourself and ask yourself if you have been doing something to warrant this manipulation.
It’s important to be honest with yourself. If you are unsure, it will help to speak to someone close to you and get their opinion on the topic. If you choose to discuss it with someone, make sure you give them an unbiased view of what happened.
Intention and Showing Empathy
The second step is figuring out the intention of your partner. In another words, it’s to put yourself in their shoes and try to feel what they were feeling. Your aim here is to try to understand them and figure out where they are coming from. If you are not sure about their intention, it’s best to not make any assumption. Instead, just speak to them about it.
When you speak to them, make sure you are doing it with the intention of understanding them and coming to a conclusion; not to blame them and get the moral higher ground.
Communication
The third step, communication, is the most important step of all. With proper communication, you can pretty much solve any problem in your relationship. Remember, whenever you choose to communicate, do it clearly and with the intention of resolving the issue.