Flipping The Script
Guilt-trippers can rewrite the narrative, blaming you for their own mistakes. Dr. Jude Black compares this behavior to gaslighting and says the first line of defense is recognizing the behavior so you can set boundaries.
The Silent Treatment
Sometimes guilt-trippers go radio silent, avoiding communication to make you feel guilty and anxious. This tactic forces the victim to be trapped in their own mind, constantly thinking about “what-if’s.” Dr. Jude says you can combat this with a PNP conversation, where you start with the positive, then get into the negative, then circle back to the positive.
Reminding You of Favors
Guilt-trippers often keep score, reminding you of all they’ve done for you. It’s good to want to do favors for your partner, but when they start holding those actions against you or those actions become an obligation, it’s time to have a conversation. Having these conversations early on is key to avoiding built-up resentment in the future.
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