Unmasking Emotional Manipulation: Identifying and Overcoming Toxic Tactics

Joseph and Paula explore the unhealthy art of emotional manipulation. From subtle gaslighting to overt guilt-tripping, they uncover tactics manipulators use to control and exploit their victims.

Join us as we define Emotional Manipulation, discuss how to recognize the signs, gain some insights from research on the impact it has on mental health, and talk about practical tips and strategies to protect yourself from manipulators and rebuild your emotional resilience.

Whether you've experienced emotional manipulation firsthand, suspect someone in your life might be manipulating you, or simply want to be more aware, this episode provides invaluable knowledge and tools to empower yourself and take control of your emotional well-being. Tune in and join the conversation as we unmask the manipulators and reclaim our emotional freedom.

Questions? If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email them directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Info@lifelivedbetter.net ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession. We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.

Resources used to develop this episode:

3 Common Tactics of Manipulative Parents | Psychology Today United Kingdom

8 Genius Comebacks for Dealing With a Manipulator, According to Psychologists (msn.com)

15+ Signs of Emotion Manipulation (healthline.com)

Beasts, victims or competent agents: The positioning of children in research literature on manipulation - Hanne Warming, Lotte Rannveig Galløe, Anna Rosa Haumark Carlsen, Sara Romme Rasmussen, 2019 (sagepub.com)

Learning to let go: Parental over-engagement predicts poorer self-regulation in kindergartners. (apa.org)

What Is Emotional Manipulation? I Psych Central

Joseph and Paula continue their discussion about Adaptive Coping Skills by finishing up the list of tips you can use to reduce anxiety and stress.

Stress and anxiety are part of life. But the good news is that we have the ability to take ownership of our responses and make healthy changes that will benefit us long-term. The important thing is to keep trying healthy coping until you find those strategies that work best for you.

We want to hear from you! Interact with the Life Lived Better podcast through their website, social media, and follow and review their podcast on most podcast platforms.

You can find the Life Lived Better Podcast on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Tik Tok⁠, ⁠Twitter/X⁠, and ⁠Instagram⁠.

Questions? If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email them directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Info@lifelivedbetter.net ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession. We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.

Resources used to develop this episode:

⁠71 Coping Skills: A List for Adults to Deal with Anxiety & Stress - Happier Human⁠

⁠Coping Skills for Stress and Uncomfortable Emotions (verywellmind.com)⁠

⁠Defense Mechanisms: Definition, Types, Examples, Solutions (verywellmind.com)⁠

⁠Healthy Coping: 24 Mechanisms & Skills For Positive Coping (positivepsychology.com)⁠

Foundation 45 Non-Profit organization with free resources for adults in Texas ⁠Foundation 45⁠

Since today is the fourth of July, Joseph and Paula are sharing one of their most listened to episodes from their library - From Episode 60: Communication Styles.

If someone asks you to go to dinner, what is your response?

• Sure. I will go if I can pick the restaurant.
• Sure. I will go and I will go to the restaurant you pick.
• Sure. I have no opinion on where we go. But I will complain if it isn't what I secretly wanted.
• Sure. We can go to the restaurant you pick this time and my choice next time.

Each of these responses represent a Communication Style. Do you know your Communication Style? Listen as Joseph and Paula address the 4 Styles to determine which you most frequently use.

We want to hear from you! Interact with the Life Lived Better podcast through their website, social media, and follow and review their podcast on most podcast platforms.

You can find the Life Lived Better Podcast on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter/X⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Questions? If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email them directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Info@lifelivedbetter.net ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession. We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.

Resourced information:

⁠4 Types of Communication Styles | Alvernia University⁠

Burr, W. R. (1990). Beyond I-Statements in family communication. Family Relations, 39(3), 266. ⁠https://doi.org/10.2307/584870⁠

⁠Understanding Your Communication Style | Princeton University⁠

If you have a question, you would like Joseph and Paula to answer during an episode of Questions for Counselors, feel free to reach out through the website at www.lifelivedbetter.net or email them directly at ⁠Info@lifelivedbetter.net⁠

You can find information about this and other episodes on the website: ⁠www.lifelivedbetter.net⁠.

Just a reminder - anything shared by the pair during this and all other episodes is based on personal experiences and opinions. It is not to be viewed as professional counseling or advice and is solely the opinion of the individual and does not represent their employers or profession. We would love for you to rate our show and tell others about us. And remember, Knowledge leads to a Life Lived Better.