Okay, so, today I wanna talk about something that’s been kinda heavy on my mind lately: covert psychological abuse. It’s one of those things you don’t really hear about much, but it’s super important, and I’ve been digging into it a lot lately.
I started noticing some patterns in my past relationships, and I was thinking, “Something ain’t right here.” It wasn’t like, physical or anything obvious, but more like, sneaky mind games. So, I started with a simple thing as google it. I typed in things like “subtle emotional abuse” and “signs of psychological manipulation,” just to see what would pop up.
The amount of stuff I found was, honestly, overwhelming. There are tons of articles and resources out there. I spent hours reading through them. There were these long lists of behaviors that are considered abusive, like, constant criticism, gaslighting, isolating you from your friends, and neglecting your feelings. It was a lot to take in.
After gathering all this info, I started to analyze it, trying to match what I’d read with my own experiences. I began to identify some of these subtle signs in my past. For example, there was this one time when I was constantly criticized for being “too sensitive.”
So I was thinking, “How do I deal with this?” I realized I needed a plan. And decided to talk to a therapist about it, someone who could help me make sense of all this. That was a big step for me.
- Recognize the Patterns: First, I had to really see what was going on. Acknowledge those subtle signs that I’d been ignoring.
- Seek Support: I knew I couldn’t do this alone. I had to reach out, talk to people, maybe even a professional.
- Set Boundaries: This one was tough but super important. I had to learn to say “no” and stand up for myself.
- Self-Care: Gotta take care of myself, you know? Do things that make me happy, spend time with people who lift me up.
My Action Steps:
The implementation part wasn’t easy. Talking to a therapist felt weird at first, but it really helped. Setting boundaries was the hardest part. It felt like I was rocking the boat, causing more conflict. But I had to remind myself that it’s okay to protect my own mental space. And self-care, well, that’s an ongoing thing. It’s not just about bubble baths and stuff, but really listening to what I need.
It’s been a real journey, and I’m still on it. But I wanted to share this because I know I’m not the only one going through this kind of stuff. It’s a tough topic, but talking about it, getting support, and taking those steps, no matter how small, can make a huge difference.
So, if any of this rings a bell for you, just know that you’re not alone. There are people who get it and resources out there that can help. It’s all about taking it one step at a time.
