If you’re dating a guy who’s controlling, it can feel like there’s nothing you can do to change the relationship. However, there are steps that you can take to protect yourself and your boundaries. Here are some early signs of a controlling man so that you can recognize them in your own life!
Check the articles below to learn further
Emotional manipulation
It’s often hard to notice the early signs of a controlling man, but if you see some of the following behaviors in your partner, take it as a red flag.
A controlling man will try to control your emotions and how you feel. He may attempt to make you feel guilty, afraid, or sad in order to get his way. He might also try to make it seem as though whatever he’s doing is for your own good, even if it isn’t! The worst part is that sometimes we start believing that this person knows what’s best for us and we end up reinforcing their behavior because we don’t want them mad at us or hurt our relationship with them. Don’t fall into this trap! Remember: YOU are the only one who gets to decide how YOU feel about something, not anyone else, not even someone who claims they love you (because no one ever has a right over another person’s emotions).
They’re always the hero
When you’re with a controlling man, you can’t escape the feeling that he’s always right and you’re always wrong. He is the hero who always manages to save the day; and when something goes wrong, it’s your fault. And if there’s anything bad in your life, whether it be work or relationships, he will offer his opinion on how to fix it, even though he hasn’t been there or done that himself.
If you’ve caught yourself thinking “I’d trust him with my life,” then beware: This statement is actually used by abusers as a way of making their victims feel dependent on them for guidance and support. If someone continually tells us how much they care about us and loves us unconditionally (and we believe it), then we’ll begin to rely on them more than ourselves for our self-esteem and confidence; which makes them easier targets for manipulation or abuse because now they know exactly where our breaking point is located so they can use this information against us later down the road when things start getting heated between couples who aren’t meant to be together anymore but refuse t leave their partners until their dying days because only then do they realize what was happening all along…
They want to know everything about you
You should be able to tell a lot about a person’s character by the questions they ask. If your partner wants to know everything about you, that’s an issue. What does this mean? It means that they want to know where you are and who with at all times. They want to know what is going on in your life and they want to know what is going on in your brain. This doesn’t sound too bad, right? It sounds like they care…until you realize that it isn’t just because of their concern for your well-being, but rather because it allows them full access into all aspects of your life so that they can control what goes on there (and stop things from happening).
This type of controlling behavior typically starts out small: for example, asking for help with homework or needing directions when driving somewhere new. The next thing anyone knows though is that their partner has become very clingy when it comes to spending time together outside work or school, and now even wants details about whom else those activities involve!
They want to control your circle of friends
You might find that he wants to know who you are talking to, where you are going and what you are doing. He may also want to know who your friends are and what they think of him. Some controlling men want to be the only person in their partner’s life. They don’t like it when a woman has other interests or friendships outside of the relationship and will try to limit them by making her feel guilty if she spends time with others.
Being able to control someone else is an important part of a controlling man’s personality, but the way he tries this varies greatly from person to person.
They can’t control their anger
Anger is a sign of insecurity, whether it’s in the form of verbal abuse or physical violence. When you feel like you can’t control your anger and lash out at others, this is an indication that something isn’t right with your relationship. If your partner gets angry when you don’t see things his way, he may be controlling you by using anger as a way to manipulate you.
How to deal with an angry person?
Be aware that there are two kinds of people who get angry: those who express their feelings honestly (and sometimes inappropriately), and those who bottle them up inside until they explode. Anger that is expressed honestly shows that someone has taken ownership of their actions; however, bottled-up rage indicates a lack of empathy or self-awareness on behalf of the person expressing it, and could also mean trouble down the road if left unchecked. Here are some ways to help both types cope with their emotions:
Controlling behavior can become dangerous. If you feel unsafe, leave the situation
While it might be tempting to hope that the controlling behavior will stop, the truth is that it won’t. Asking him to change usually only makes him more angry and resentful toward you, which will make your situation worse in the long run.
If he’s been physically abusive or threatening toward you or another person, don’t wait for things to get worse before getting help. You can call 911 or contact a domestic violence hotline in your area by visiting thehotline.org/resources/national-domestic-violence-crisis-lines/.
How to turn the tables on a controlling man?
If you’ve ever been in a relationship with a controlling man, you know how draining it can be.
It’s not just that he wants to know where you are every minute of the day, it’s also that he wants to tell you what to do and how to do it. He wants to tell you what to wear, who your friends are, and even what kind of food you should eat (if he doesn’t like the way you cook).
But according to one expert, there is hope: You can turn the tables on this kind of guy by recognizing his manipulative ways and refusing to fall into them. Here are some tips:
- 1. Don’t let him manipulate you into doing something by making threats or using guilt trips.
- Don’t let him make decisions for both of you, and don’t let him talk over your head when he does make decisions without consulting with you first!
- Make sure that your own voice is heard in all conversations about topics that matter most to both of you (such as where to live or what kind of car to buy).
The earlier you identify controlling behavior in a relationship, the better chance you have of leaving it before things get worse. In many cases, control is used as a way to keep the victim feeling trapped in the relationship. If you suspect someone is trying to control your life or feelings and they won’t let go, then it may be time to leave them behind.
