Withdrawal can be a form of manipulation. Contrary to the common name, "silent treatment," this type of withdrawal is actually screaming. Withdrawal manipulates by loudly threatening attachment and punishing with isolation. At exhaustion—Overrun with internally explosive and festering emotions—the manipulated will raise the white flag in surrender. - Journal Prompts: I withdraw when... My withdrawal is actually screaming... I raise the white flag when...

If you continue to do the bidding of a manipulator, they have no reason to change. Their method works. - Journal Prompts: I feel resentful when I... I continue to...

Fear attracts manipulation. If you ask directly for what you need, there is often more human exposure than one would prefer to tolerate. Manipulation offers that your humanity remain hidden and protected. - Journal Prompts: Exposing my needs means... I prefer to protect...

Manipulation often employs the emotional intensity of guilt. If you can make someone feel bad, it's far easier to get them to do something. - Journal Prompts: I feel guilty when... Guilt pushes me to...

To address manipulation, we must first understand it. At its core, manipulation is often functional—it's a way people get their needs met. Users of manipulative language often struggle to know how to ask for what they need. A compassionate interpretation might be that this is how someone learned to get needs met within their family of origin. Perhaps direct and assertive language was either unwelcome or even viewed as disrespectful. While unhealthy, there are understandable parts. Journal Prompts: I don't know how to ask for... Direct language is...

Manipulation is the unfair use of emotion to influence your agenda. Journal Prompts: I am quick to feel bad when... It feels unfair...

The cumulative good of boundaries is confidence that you have influenced the factors within your control. Journal Prompts: I can influence... I do not have influence over...