5 Ways To Stop Being Manipulated

No one chooses to be manipulated, but manipulators are so skilled that it happens before the victim realizes what's happening. Once you know how to stop manipulative behavior, you can begin to protect yourself from it. Here are five ways that you can stop allowing yourself to be manipulated. Your manipulator could be a man or a woman.

1. Learn to say "no"

A manipulative person doesn't like being told "no." When you tell him "no," he will ask for a reason, but truth is you don't owe a reason. You can simply say that you don't want to and that's enough. A manipulative person may push for more of a reason because he thinks that he has the right to decide if the reason is valid or not. By learning to confidently say "no" to a request you're not interested in, you continue to hold your power.

2. Be okay with people being upset with you

When you don't do something a manipulative person wants, he may get upset with you and argue that you don't care about him. Don't weaken when this happens. This is just another tactic that is used in order to get you to do something he wants. He wants you to feel bad and change your mind in order to make him happy. If you give in when he becomes angry or sad, you will teach him that this works on you and he will employ it any time he wants something.

3. Trust your memory

Some manipulators will try to make you feel crazy by telling you that your memory is wrong. He may say that you said something you never said or did something you know you haven't done. A manipulative person can be very convincing that they know the truth. You may begin to question your own memory and feel crazy. This is done in order for the manipulator to have power and control over you. Trust your own memory and don't allow him to tell you that you're mistaken.

4. Stop accepting all of the blame

When a manipulative person behaves badly, he will always blame others for his actions. He will say that someone else, even you, made him so upset it caused him to act badly. He will tell you that if you had just been happier or did what he asked, he never would have done what he did. It's important that you don't feel guilty for the choices that he made. That's exactly what he wants because it means he will have the power again. He is one hundred percent responsible for his own actions no matter what you do or say.

5. End your interactions completely

The best way to stop being manipulated is to stop talking to whoever is trying to manipulate you. This is easier said than done if the person is a family member or someone you work with, but if you are friends with or dating someone who is manipulative, you can put an end to the relationship. If you must communicate with a manipulative person, you should learn how to communicate in a way that conveys you aren't weak to his tactics. Speak in a loud and confident voice.

It's important to remember that manipulators can be very nice people. Never assume that simply because someone is nice he can't be manipulating you on purpose...or with intention. The good news is that you can learn to protect yourself from this behavior.