RECOGNIZING MENTALLY ABUSIVE PEOPLE

Many things can make someone toxic or abusive. These people know exactly what they are doing to you, and it is always intentional. They rarely reach out for help because they refuse accountability 👀

Most emotionally abusive people have several of these traits combined. Toxic people are critical, accusatory, point fingers, fault find, exploit and point out flaws, weaknesses and insecurities, try to make you feel bad or insecure, throw shame and blame, arrogant, condescending, self righteous, hypocritical, has double standards, doesn’t listen, stonewalls, ignores, dismissive, shuts down communication, yells over the top of you, doesn’t allow you to talk, rages, excludes you, tells you what to do, tells you how you should or shouldn’t feel, disrespects you, makes negative assumptions, is judgmental, projects on you, lies, manipulates, stalks, participates in gossip, uses gossip and hearsay to hurt you (repeats it), shares personal information they have without permission of the person who gave it, acts and speaks for others, is controlling, gives orders, makes demands, intimidates, makes threats, makes verbal attacks, attempts to devalue you, blames you for everything, scapegoats, makes false accusations, uses emotional blackmail, name calls, bullies, mocks or laughs, takes their anger out on you, treats you unfairly, poorly, or as inferior, plays the victim when they are the aggressors, meddles, interferes, violates boundaries, litters unsolicited opinions and advice, treats you like a child, tries to make decisions for you or someone else in your life situations, pits and divides you with loved ones or your support system, puts you on the defense, doesn’t ever take accountability, never makes apologies, gaslights, denies their hurtful behaviors, minimizes or trivializes you, invalidates, acts like know it all, can never be wrong, rude, mean, insensitive, cruel, aggressive or passive aggressive, lacks empathy, and they show they don’t care how their words and actions affect you. Remember, abuse is always about needing control, having a feeling of power over you, and a need to feel confident that they’re contributing to your misery breaks you up 👀