DEALING WITH CONTROLLING PEOPLE
They try to control others or situations. They do so out of anxiety because they worry that if they're not in control, things will go wrong.
Other controlling behavior is to assert dominance, and this is a form of abuse.
To an extent, everyone tries to control what happens in their lives.
However
If a person tries to control another's lif with manilulation or physical means it is a Form of abuse
The use different ways of controlling manipulation, coercian, threads, guilt tripping and intimidation.
A person may try to control a situation by placing themselves in charge and doing everything themselves.
Someone who is “controlling” tries to control situations to an extent that is unhealthy or tries to control other people.
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Someone who is controlling may want to control people close to them, such as their partner or family members.
Is it abuse?
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, a person is abusive if they use behaviors force someone into doing what they want.
These behaviors can include:
@ physical abuse, such as hitting
@ financial abuse, which involves taking control of someone else’s money
@ sexual coercion(Trusted Source) or
@ assault
@ emotional abuse, which may involve insults, intimidation, or gaslighting
Emotional abuse or psychological aggression(Trusted Source) can also involve behaviors that undermine a person’s self-worth and independence, such as isolating them from their family and friends.
Signs and behaviors of controlling people
In an intimate relationship, a controlling partner may
@ demand to know what a person is doing at all times
@ monitor devices, social media, or email accounts
@ act in a jealous manner and frequently accuse partners of cheating
@ dictate when someone can go to school or work
@ tell someone what to eat, drink, or wear
@ stop someone from seeing their friends or family
@ control someone’s finances, so that they lose access to their money
@ prevent someone from getting medical care or mental health support
@ use insults to break down a person’s confidence
@ intentionally humiliate someone in public or online
@ threaten to hurt themselves or others in order to get what they want
These abusive behaviors may appear slowly, making them difficult to detect, or they may escalate suddenly after the couple has created a strong bond.
Causes
Anxiety
For some people, attempting to control situations or events is a way of coping with anxiety
For example, a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, may need to have control over their environment or routine due to intense fears of contamination or crime. Treating the underlying anxiety may improve a person’s symptoms.
Personality disorders
Some personality disorders can make a person more likely to use controlling behavior. Some examples include:
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD): NPD is a mental health condition that causes an intense need for admiration, a sense of superiority, and a lack of empathy.
Borderline personality disorder (BPD): People with BPD are hypersensitive to rejection and abandonment and may use controlling behaviors to avoid it. Around 1.6%Trusted Source of the general population has BPD.
Personality disorders are long-term mental health conditions. Some people with BPD make significant improvements with psychotherapy, but they may need 10 years or more of treatment before they function well in a range of relationships and at work, for example.
Learned behavior
Abusive partners have often learned controlling behavior, and other forms of abuse, from other people. They may have grown up in an abusive household or learned from caregivers that it is their right to exert power over their partner
In these cases, it is possible for the person to change their behaviors and attitudes. But for this to happen, the person must truly want to change and take steps to achieve it.
these issues do not justify or excuse abuse.
How to deal with controlling people
The first step is to figure out whether or not the controlling behavior is abusive. If it is not, it may be a good idea to talk to the person about their behavior.
A person can try:
using “I” statements, such as “I feel unhappy,” to avoid sounding accusatory
discussing ways to share control or responsibility
setting clear boundaries about what is acceptable
A person cannot make someone want to change their behavior. If a person attempts to talk calmly and openly with someone, and they do not listen, the person may need to distance themselves or end the relationship.
In other cases, when a person demonstrates abusive behavior, such as coercive control, it may be dangerous to confront them.recommend creating a safety plan.
It may involve:
identifying trusted friends or family members to call for help
practicing self-care that benefits mental health
designating safe places and escape points
identifying other factors that will help the person safely leave the situation
Signs of danger
Emotional abuse in an intimate relationship often predicts
physical abuse.
Signs that a relationship has become dangerous include
physically intimidating behavior, such as throwing or breaking objects or punching walls
bringing weapons into the house and using them to intimidate
harming, or threatening to harm, pets or children
using threats of violence, self-harm, or death
When to seek help
Anyone who may be experiencing any type of abuse should consider seeking help.
Helplines, support groups, therapists, counselors, and a range of other resources are available to ensure that a person can leave a situation safely and recover
To a degree, everyone wants to control what happens to them. In some cases, a person’s need to control their routine, situation, or environment may be a sign of anxiety or a mental health disorder.
When a person tries to control or manipulate others, it can be damaging and a form of abuse.
If a relationship is unhealthy but not abusive, it may be possible for a controlling person to work on changing their behavior. However, coercive control can escalate to physical violence.
It is important for people who live with a controlling or abusive person to have a plan to protect themselves so that they can leave the situation safely and recover
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