Signs of emotional bullying in marriage – Times of India

Bullying at work can still be dealt with, but in relationships it can have life-changing consequences. Emotional bullies may be disguised as protective, loving and caring partners, but their insecurity and obsession can leave deep scars. A spouse who’s an emotional bully will manipulate at every step, underplay your achievements and influence your choices. From controlling finances to fashion choices, emotional bullies will try to dominate every aspect your life.
If you feel you are being constantly criticized, gaslighted and controlled, there are chances that you are suffering from emotional bullying.

Emotional bullies often resort to coercive methods to limit your freedom and make you accept their demands. They will make you rethink your decisions and manipulate you into listening to what they are saying instead. This can make you doubt your own decision.

2. Constant criticism

Emotional bullies find fault in everything and anything you do from a household chore to your way of dressing. Bullies habitually shame people by recognizing and attacking their insecurities and can cause great emotional damage. If you are married to one, this can leave a deep emotional scar. Over-controlling and curtailing the freedom of a spouse is a telltale sign of bullying.

3. Lashing out verbally

Bullies often resort to threats in terms of both actions and words. They often create fear in the mind of the other by verbal abuse or creating a scene to prove their superiority or make the other person feel small. This violent outburst can leave a spouse traumatized.

4.Gaslighting

Emotional bullies may manipulate their partners by convincing them that they are misinterpreting things or are ‘too sensitive’. They may shift the blame to their partner by saying they are the ones who provoked them or they may resort to sugar-coated words by saying, they are just trying to protect the other person.
emotional bullying can at times be subtle and difficult to recognize. But trust your instinct when you feel your freedom is being curtailed in a relationship or you are being subjected to emotional abuse.