How to Tell if Someone Is Playing Mind Games.

1. You are always second-guessing yourself and wondering if you are doing the right things in the relationship to keep the other party happy.

2. You never know where you stand with the other party (or parties).

3. They hurt you and then turn around and make it seem like you are either overreacting or imagining things, and refuse to apologize. And this always drives anyone in that situation over the wall.

Check out this related article on What to do when someone won’t apologize.

4. It feels like you are being gaslighted by the other party (or parties), or in some cases being ghosted by the other party.

5. You feel sometimes like you are the one who is trying hard to make the relationship work and in the process appearing needy or clingy. Or on the other hand they

6. They always find subtle ways to put you down in public or try to make you feel jealous and left out.

7. They shut you out or give you a cold shoulder in public and yet in private act all lovey-dovey and nice, thus leaving you confused.

8. They make snide comments and always resort to backhanded compliments as a way of trying to eat at your confidence and make you feel unsure of yourself.

9. They manipulatively get you to do things for them by suggesting them rather than asking you because they don’t want to look or feel weak and/or helpless and/or needy. And when you don’t give in to what they want, they become passive-aggressive and/or cold towards you.

How To Deal With A Guy/Girl Who Plays Mind Games – 5 Helpful Ways.

When it comes to people who play mind games, you need to understand first of all that most of those who play mind games don’t care about the impact or effect of their actions on their victims. They are indifferent about whether or not their actions are destroying the ones they are playing mind games with.

Check out this related article on Signs someone wants to destroy you for a more detailed discussion of other ways and signs someone may be trying to destroy you.

And this is why the following are the best ways to deal with anyone playing mind games with you:

1. First, accept that they are playing mind games with you and that it is not okay.

This is an important first step because until you accept this, you will keep falling victim to their mind games. Acceptance is an important first step because often victims of mind games stay in denial and convince themselves that the one playing with their minds isn’t doing so. The effect of this denial is that they keep exposing themselves constantly to being played with and getting hurt in the process.

This is why this is a crucial first step to dealing with that guy/girl who plays mind games. Once you can accept it, then you can also start to see that it is not okay that you should be the victim of such mind games.

2. Pay attention to their actions and list all their actions that point towards their mind games (whether mentally or by writing them down).

What this does is to help you know when someone is trying to pull a fast one on you and to not stand for it.

3. Stand your ground and call them out if need be.

Paying attention to their actions particularly when you can see they are trying to play mind games with you would help you in identifying when and in what ways they are trying to play with your mind.

Once you identify these, do not hesitate to call them out on it. If they feign ignorance or try to make you think you are overreacting, make it clear that you are not having any of it or letting them make you think you’re imagining things. Never apologize for the outworkings of their mind games because that would only give them the impetus to keep playing with your mind.

4. Actively shut them out of your mind and ignore them for your sanity.

Do not let them live in your head. For instance for the one who wants you to chase after them and be the one always making the effort to keep the relationship going, ignore them completely. Make no effort to stay in touch because this makes you look needy and desperate for the relationship which gives them that feeling of power and control over you that they crave so much. This step will be easy to take once you have accepted that they are playing mind games on you and that it is not okay.

5. You may need to keep a healthy distance from them and/or end the relationship especially where it becomes toxic and unhealthy.

Understand that you don’t need to stay in a toxic relationship where you are constantly being manipulated and made to feel less confident.

A friend for example who is playing mind games with you is not a good friendship to keep as it would have a negative effect on you especially on your mental health. There are immense benefits to surrounding yourself with good friends and keeping a friend who plays mind games close to you will rob you of these benefits. It is better to be alone than in a toxic friendship/relationship that robs you of your self-worth through persistent mind games.

Check out our other helpful and related article on When should you give up on a relationship for more reasons why it would be in your best interest to end a toxic relationship where someone is playing with your mind.

Frequently Asked Questions.

1. How do you know someone is playing mind games in a relationship?

Look out for the 9 signs listed in the third section of this article. Should you see one or more or all of these signs you should not be in doubt that you are on the receiving end of mind games.

2. What are psychological mind games relationships?

These are relationships where one party inflicts emotional and psychological abuse on their partner through persistent mind games. In such relationships, the partner on the receiving end is never good enough. They always find themselves second-guessing themselves and in constant psychological turmoil.

3. How can you tell if a girl/boy is playing with your emotions?

You know a girl/boy is playing with your emotions when they: