A practical guide to better communication that will break the blackmail cycle for good, by one of the nation's leading therapists, Susan Forward. “Breathe a sigh of relief! Susan Forward helps you identify and correct an intensely destructive and confusing pattern of relating with those you love. I highly recommend this important book!"—Susan Jeffers, Ph.D., author of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway "If you really loved me..." "After all I've done for you..." "How can you be so selfish..." Do any of the above sound familiar? They're all examples of emotional blackmail, a powerful form of manipulation in which people close to us threaten to punish us for not doing what they want. Emotional blackmailers know how much we value our relationships with them. They know our vulnerabilities and our deepest secrets. They are our mothers, our partners, our bosses and coworkers, our friends and our lovers. And no matter how much they care about us, they use this intimate knowledge to give themselves the payoff they want: our compliance. Susan Forward knows what pushes our hot buttons. Just as John Gray illuminates the communications gap between the sexes in Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, and Harriet Lerner describes an intricate dynamic in The Dance of Anger, so Susan Forward presents the anatomy of a relationship damaged by manipulation, and gives readers an arsenal of tools to fight back.

You Are About To Discover How To Neutralize The Manipulation Efforts Of Any Manipulator In Your Life And Take Your Sanity And Life Back! If you do not do this, then I will... (threat). You are the reason why this is happening (blame). Because you don't pay attention to my needs (guilt trip)... Have you heard these kinds of statements repeatedly from someone? For some reason, are you the one who is always doing something to them and you have been the only one apologizing, and the one to make sacrifices, going an extra mile to make them comfortable - to try to make things better between you? Are you made to feel vulnerable and answerable to them, yet you know that is not the 'normal' order of the relationship? If these things describe the relationship you have with someone, be it a parent, child, partner, friend or colleague at work, keep reading; you will find how to make it stop and get your freedom back! I know they made you feel like you were crazy and over reactive when you called them out on their behavior, pushing you around to do what they want. At some point, you may have felt that they were right and you were irrational. But that's how a manipulative person works to break their victim's defenses. There is a name for this kind of behavior; emotional blackmail. It is not easy to identify when you are being manipulated this way, especially if it happens with someone you love. However, regardless of who the perpetrator is, emotional manipulation will hurt you and steal your life and happiness. Lucky for you though, this book provides insights on this behavior, to teach you how to recognize it and how to deal with it and end it. The book will help you grow a spine so that you can take your life back!

"If you really loved me, you would..." "I'll hurt myself if you don't do what I want." "You owe me after all I've done for you." "I'll tell everyone about your secrets if you don't…” Do these phrases sound familiar to you? The real meaning of these sentences, although it may trigger complex and confusing feelings, can be summed up in two simple words: emotional blackmail. Emotional blackmail is a covert form of aggression in which a person close to us threatens, directly or indirectly, to punish us if we don't meet their expectations. It's a powerful form of manipulation that can be used by anyone, including co-workers, parents, friends, and partners. Blackmailers can be cunning charmers and master manipulators. They may seem like kind and caring people at first, but they can quickly turn into a "black hole" willing to do anything to satisfy their needs. They are experts at making you feel guilty or obligated to them. They may use threats, tears, or guilt trips to get what they want. They may also play the victim or make you feel like you're the only one who can help them. Invisible chains that are hard to see and break can bind you to family, friends, colleagues, or partners. The blackmailer may seem selfish, devious, or mean, but this is often not the case. In reality, they may be struggling with their own emotional issues and using blackmail as a way to cope. Yes, I know this can be difficult to understand. If you know the gripping feeling of being emotionally blackmailed, then it's time to reassess how much you know about this form of manipulation. This book has everything you need to know about being the master of your own emotions and not letting anyone else take the reins. Here's a sneak peek at what you'll learn in this book: · Understand how emotional blackmail works and how to identify it. · Learn the red flags of emotional blackmail. · Recognize the characteristics that make you a target for emotional blackmail. · Understand how emotional blackmailers exploit attachment and codependency. · Recognize the five personality types commonly associated with emotional blackmail. · Learn the seven steps that emotional blackmailers use to control their victims. · Take steps to stop being a victim and safeguard your emotional well-being. · Understand the lasting impact of emotional blackmail on your emotions. · Address emotional blackmail in the context of the internet and social media. · Use assertive communication to resist emotional manipulation. · Build resilience to effectively counter emotional blackmail and thrive in relationships. They know your buttons and they'll keep pushing them if you don't stop them. If you are tired of the sickening pain of emotional blackmail, fear, guilt, obligation, shame, and other twisted mind games, do yourself a favor. Take a deep breath, relax that knot in your stomach, and pick up this book. It will protect you for life, and more importantly, it can break the invisible chain that binds you to your "blackmailer."

The world-renowned therapist and author of the groundbreaking self-help classic, The Emotionally Abusive Relationship, delves into the most destructive and powerful weapon of the abuser: shame. And reveals its most powerful antidote... In The Emotionally Abused Woman, therapist Beverly Engel introduced the concept of emotional abuse, one of the most subtle, yet devastating forms of abuse within a relationship. Now Engel exposes the most destructive technique the abuser uses to break our spirit and gain control--and guides readers on how to free themselves from the shame that can keep them from the life (and the love) they deserve. Emotionally abused people are gradually stripped of self-esteem, dignity, and humanity--making them feel unworthy and utterly powerless to escape. But they possess a potent tool with which to combat shame: self-compassion. In these pages, Engel shows how to access it. Using her highly effective Shame Reduction Program, she helps readers jumpstart the process of recovery by offering specific steps to help heal, regain self-confidence--and ultimately become empowered enough to leave--for good. An invaluable resource for both men and women who suffer from emotional abuse, as well as therapists and advocates, Escaping Emotional Abuse is a supportive, nurturing guide for anyone seeking to break the chains of shame, and gain the emotional freedom to create healthier, lasting relationships.

How to recognize and cope with Parent Frustration Syndrome (PFS): negative thoughts and feelings about your children"

When in danger, it's okay to feel afraid This fear generates several split-second changes in the body to prepare for the "fight-or-flight" response- And that's healthy!Individuals who go through Psychological Abuse of all types somehow they neither fight or flight But Freeze, and Accept as if things will get better one day!?However, for many this day never shows up! In The Way Out of Emotional Abuse book, you will learn all about these psychological abuse signs and how to Get Out of ITHere are some of the critical things you will learn emotional abuse: What is REALLY emotional abuse? Understanding emotional abuse Types of emotional abuse Effects of emotional abuse Emotional Bullying Emotional Blackmail How to avoid being a victim of emotional blackmailing Verbal abuse Signs of verbal bullying The general effects of emotional bullying to their victims Psychological Abuse Knowing you are a victim of mental abuse How those around us can make us realize that we are psychologically injured Emotional Manipulation Signs that you are emotionally being manipulated The Way Out Of Emotional Abuse Emotional management Some of the important strategies to manage your strong negative emotions The types of therapy for emotional abuse

Can a wife single-handedly bring a boring or broken marriage back to life? This improved and expanded edition of Laura Doyle's acclaimed First, Kill All the Marriage Counselors features real-life success stories from empowered wives who have done just that—and provides a step-by-step guide to revitalizing your own marriage. Laura Doyle's marriage was in trouble, and couples counseling wasn't helping. On the brink of divorce, she decided to talk to women who'd been happily married for over a decade, and their advice stunned her. From it, she distilled Six Intimacy Skills—woman-centric practices that ended her overwhelm and resentment, restoring the playfulness and passion in her marriage. Now an internationally-recognized relationship coach, Doyle has shared her secrets with women around the globe, saving thousands of marriages with her fresh, revolutionary approach. Practical and counter-intuitive, the Six Intimacy Skills are about focusing on your own desires and transforming your own life—not bending over backwards to transform your husband. Incorporating these skills will empower you to: Attract his attention like a magnet when you relax more and do less Receive affection not because you told him to make more of an effort, but because he naturally seeks you out Feel more like yourself—and like yourself more If you've been trying to "fix" your relationship and it's not working, maybe the problem was never you, or your husband, or even the two of you as a couple. Maybe the problem is that nobody ever taught you the skills you need to foster respect, tenderness, and consideration. With humor and heart, The Empowered Wife shows you how to improve your relationship in ways you hadn't thought possible. You'll join a worldwide community of over 150,000 empowered wives who finally have the marriages they dreamed of when they said "I do."