Things You'll Need:
- a control freak
- persistence
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Step 1
Be able to recognize the signs of a control freak. Often, controlling behavior will parallel abusive behavior. A control freak can be a casual acquaintance, such as a co-worker (we've all experienced one of those!) or it can be someone close to you. Control freaks can often lie at the root of a dysfunctional family. If you begin to feel like you can't speak or breathe without permission, you have a control freak on your hands, and you need to do something about it, and fast.
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Step 2
When they critisize you, do not respond. Do not provide them with any type of reaction, including emotional displays, arguments or disagreement. This fighting is what a control freak lives for, and the battle is their dessert. Don't give it to them. Refuse to fight, refuse the battle. You're not losing, you're simply not participating.
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Step 3
Tell them as little as possible, the less information they know about you, the better, because they will be unable to control what you say and do. Vary your behaviors, keep them guessing, and before long, they won't have a hold of you any longer. Be careful, being around these types of people can take a toll on your own mental health, and you will have to make a conscious effort to ensure that you remain mentally healthy and strong. Depression and anxiety can present itself over time and may require professional treatment.
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Step 4
Obtaining some type of counseling or therapeutic intervention for yourself is always a good idea, so that you are able to assess any damage that might have been caused during your relationship with the control freak. An even better case scenario would be for you to assist the control freak in obtaining some therapy or treatment for themselves, so that they can begin to live a normal healthy existence without controlling other people.
Comments
snicky said
on 11/8/2009 my mom, dad and my sisters(twins) are all control freaks so i feel like i have no power at all. cus they refuse to listen to me and learn from me. everything has to be their own damn way and that's wrong. they refuse to treat me like an adult yet they tell me to act like one, i have fought my whole life to be my own person yet they refuse to let go and let me run my own life when i'm around them. noone should fight a control freak but i think that's dumb because why should they have all the power. yet i guess control freaks love the fight , they get off on it. i have had several men in my life try to control me and thats wrong, they have abused me as much as my own family and that's wrong. they call me nasty names to try to gain control, how is calling a woman a b----,c---, and retard gonna gain respect?
edieness said
on 6/14/2009 I have to tell you that I did a search on control freaks and your article was at the top. It is a great article by the way with some very helpful pointers and sadly enough accurate information on mental health. I totally agree that control freaks are often the root of disfuncation. 5 stars wish I could give you more. REC
Merriment said
on 4/15/2009 Good information to take away a control freak's power. I think the best way to sum it up, is to live your life as your own, not the way the expect you to!
kabney said
on 3/12/2009 Very good advice, no one has to be under the thumb of a control freak. 5* and a recommend.
gnosis65 said
on 3/12/2009 Excellent advice and well written.