Word Games Abusers Play

• Interrupts you when you’re talking.

• Repeats “your exact words” but takes them out of context or makes up something that you did not say or mean.

• Challenges you to remember “exact words” but you can’t (or tells you you’re wrong) because the conversation is so confusing you don’t know exactly what he’s talking about anymore.

• Changes the subject to divert your attention.

• Tells you what you really mean to say.

• Drones on for hours, repeating the same points, getting nowhere, until you’re so exhausted you want to agree just to get them to be quiet (brainwashing).

• Re-defines words to mean what he or she wants them to mean.

• Denies saying what they said (even if you’re playing it back to him from a digital recorder, they may deny meaning what they obviously meant).

• Uses tricks like abusive anger to get you to be quiet or listen.

Extracted from: Things Abusers Say and Do to Gain Power Over You
verbalabusejournals.com/about-abuse/things-abusers-say-do/