1. Trying to Ignore Instincts

Starting to ignore instincts is one of the signs of manipulation in relationships. A person may start to forget about their feelings, even though they feel something is wrong, or they keep doing things that they don't want to do. An example scenario is as follows:

You're on a date with your partner, but they repeatedly pick up phone calls from other people. You protest about it, but your partner gets angry. He then turns the conversation to how your actions ruined the special date you had planned.

In this situation, you don't express your feelings, and instead try to calm her down. In the end, you just ask yourself why it happened or if the fault lies with you, but again, it's forgotten because you don't want to complicate the situation.

2. Start Feeling Guilty

Manipulative partners are amazing. They can indirectly interfere emotionally so that guilt or shame arises from their partner. A manipulator usually expresses his or her dislike for an action or remark. The scenario is as follows.

You have one day free after being busy with work deadlines. The initial intention is to spend some me time, but your partner seems a little upset. He reveals that he is hurt that you choose to be alone rather than with him.

Finally, you will do anything to please him. But on the one hand, you start to feel like you're losing your sense of who you are after following all of your partner's requests that are generally inversely proportional to your own opinions and desires.

A manipulator easily makes you feel guilty

3. Fear of Acting or Saying

After going through various circumstances and starting to question yourself, you end up feeling a fear and hesitation to act and say certain things, just because you want to avoid conflict. Sometimes, you automatically avoid certain topics or actions. An example scenario is as follows:

You are invited to a coworker's birthday party, but know that your partner doesn't like it. The last time you spent time with that coworker, your partner chose to silence you for 2 days.

The impact of the situation is that you're having second thoughts about whether to go or not. If you go, your partner will be angry, but if you don't go, your coworker will think you're not a loyal friend. Such indecision has been a sign of relationship manipulation, which you may or may not be consciously experiencing.

4. Start Questioning Your Mental Health

Manipulation in relationships not only causes stress and anxiety, but also makes you feel uncomfortable and confused about your own behavior and emotions. Eventually, you may wonder if your mental health is compromised. Feelings like these can arise from gaslighting behavior from your partner. Here's an example scenario:

Your partner wants to go on a vacation to City A, but you remind him or her that your last trip there didn't end well. Instead, your partner says that he or she never said that and accuses you of making it up.

Through the actions you get from your partner, you start to question whether your memory is indeed faulty, to the point where you yourself are not sure whether certain things really happened or not. If you've reached this stage, consider meeting with a mental health professional.

Slowly, you start to question your mental health

So, the signs of manipulation in relationships can be shown through 4 things, namely when you try to ignore your instincts, start feeling guilty, are afraid to act or speak, and start questioning your mental health. Don't be afraid to talk to others about your problems, talk as needed to get good advice. You deserve to be in a healthy relationship!

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