Have you ever felt like someone was messing with your emotions?

You’re smiling one moment and crying the next – and it’s more draining than exciting. You may be dealing with something called emotional manipulation.

Now, emotional manipulation is a sneaky little thing. It happens more often than we realize. But guess what? We’re here to help you spot it.

In this article, we’ll unpack nine signs of emotional manipulation. If these signs sound familiar, you could be in the thick of it.

1) They’re always playing the victim

Have you ever met someone who always seems to be the victim of life’s hardships? No matter what the situation, they somehow manage to be the victim.

It’s never their fault; it’s always someone else’s. They use their real or imagined victimhood to control your emotions, making you feel guilty or sympathetic to get what they want.

If you constantly try to help or comfort someone who never seems to take responsibility for their actions, it’s time to take a step back and assess the situation.

2) They twist your words

Sound familiar? You’re in a conversation, and suddenly, what you said is turned around, twisted, and used against you. This is a common tactic emotional manipulators use.

They twist your words to make you doubt yourself or feel guilty. You’re in a maze, and every turn leads to a dead end.

You always feel misunderstood or wrong, even when you know you’re not, which means emotional manipulation applies to you.

3) They’re hot and cold

I’ve been there. I had a friend who would be super friendly to me one day, making me feel like the most critical person in the world. The next day, they’d act like I was invisible.

It was confusing and hurtful. This hot-and-cold routine is a classic indication of emotional manipulation.

It’s designed to keep you guessing and off balance. If this sounds like something you’re experiencing, you should rethink that relationship.

4) They make you doubt your worth

This one hits close to home. It’s like a punch to the gut when someone you care about makes you feel like you’re not good enough. Emotional manipulators have a knack for this.

They subtly (or sometimes not so subtly) chip away at your self-confidence and self-worth until you start doubting yourself. You might begin believing you don’t deserve respect, happiness, or love.

However, let me remind you something – you are valuable and worthy and deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.

5) They make you feel like you’re always in the wrong

I remember a relationship in which I always felt like I was in the wrong. It was never right or good enough, no matter what I did or said.

They have this uncanny ability to twist situations and make you feel like you’re the one messing up all the time.

It’s a constant state of anxiety, always trying to avoid doing something that might upset them.

Acknowledge the emotional manipulation you’re facing if this echoes your situation.

6) They isolate you from loved ones

This one’s rough. Emotional manipulators often try to cut you off from your support system – your friends, family, anyone who might offer you perspective or a reality check.

They’ll plant seeds of doubt about these relationships, making you question the intentions of your loved ones. “They don’t understand you like I do,” they might say.

Before you know it, you’re feeling alone and isolated, relying more and more on the manipulator. It’s a cruel tactic, but unfortunately, it’s all too common.

7) They never apologize

Here’s a fact that might surprise you: emotional manipulators rarely apologize.

They avoid apologizing because it requires them to acknowledge their faults, which they’re reluctant to do. Instead, they’ll twist the situation, blame others, or ignore the issue.

Someone who never seems to say “I’m sorry” when they’re wrong might be an emotional manipulator.

8) They use your insecurities against you

This is a tough one to admit, but I’ve been there. I once had someone who knew about my insecurities, and instead of helping me overcome them, they used them against me.

They knew exactly what to say to make me feel small and insignificant. This is a traditional move by emotional manipulators. They exploit your weaknesses to gain power and control over you.

9) They dismiss your feelings

Feeling unheard or dismissed can be deeply painful. Emotional manipulators often overlook your feelings as irrelevant or overreactions. “You’re being too sensitive” or “You’re overthinking” are their common rebuttals when expressing your feelings.

This belittling of your emotions is a blatant sign of emotional manipulation. Remember, your feelings are valid and should be respected.