Are You in a Relationship with a Controlling Partner? 9 Signs

If you jump into hot water, your reaction might be to rush out of it. But what happens when you step into lukewarm water and slowly turn the heat up?

This analogy may help you understand the dynamics of a controlling partner.

Some of your partner’s controlling behaviors may be so subtle or crop up so gradually that they can be hard to detect at first. You may even start getting used to some of them. And then, one day, you may realize the water is too hot and you’re hurting.

Not all controlling partners behave in the same way, though. There are many degrees of control, and the control may be subtly integrated into your relationship.

What really matters is how you feel about these behaviors.

Do they make you feel insecure, uncomfortable, or hand-tied about some aspects of yourself and your life? This may be a red flag in itself.

These are the most common signs of a controlling partner:

1. They make decisions for you

There’s a blurry line between attentiveness and pressure. But it may be the latter if your partner routinely makes decisions for you. This is controlling behavior.

Perhaps they always insist on driving you everywhere, or they hog time in your schedule.

They may also make arrangements with your friends without asking you first, or they may paint or redecorate according to their taste only.

If they disagree with the way you dress, they might tell you so, or they could start slowly “changing your wardrobe” by buying specific outfits as gifts to you.

2. They’re overprotective

Caring for you isn’t the same as controlling you, though sometimes it may be difficult for you to tell them apart.

A partner may be overprotective if they question who you’ve gone out with, get upset if you don’t answer a phone call right away, or act jealous of your friends and family.

They may also assume that you’re only safe when they’re around, or they may ask you to consult with them every time you’re making a decision about your life.

A controlling partner may be on top of your medical appointments, draw a special diet for you, or advise you against that coworker they don’t like.

Any of these behaviors on their own might not mean anything in particular. But if your partner or spouse repeatedly acts this way and won’t take your interests, needs, and opinions into account, they might be trying to control you.

3. They play the blame game

A controlling person can have a hard time taking responsibility for their actions.

You may confront a controlling boyfriend, only to find that they’ve somehow turn it back around on you. You may even find yourself apologizing for something you didn’t know you needed to be sorry for.

For example, let’s say you’ve been texting your close friend about your relationship difficulties. While you’re in the shower, your girlfriend goes onto your phone and reads those private messages, then gets mad at you for what they saw.

Instead of admitting that they invaded your privacy in the first place, they might shift the blame to you in order to avoid responsibility for their choices. This is a sign of controlling behavior in relationships.

4. They criticize you

This is more than a careless remark here or there — after all, we all have our bad days.

Criticism can look like making jokes about you in front of other people, disparaging the way you dress, or always pointing out mistakes — like the one place you forgot to shave your legs or a little bit of dust you forgot to clean on the floor.

Over time, constant criticism can erode your sense of self-confidence, and it may also lead you to act in certain ways to avoid being criticized.

5. They micromanage you

A controlling romantic partner may try to prevent you from living your life as you typically would. They might:

• tell you what you can wear or how you should wear your hair
• pressure you to stay at a certain weight
• try to control your finances
• prevent you from getting medical care or seeing a therapist
• tell you when you can go to work or school
• hide your school or work materials from you

A controlling partner may also show this tendency in everyday situations. For example, they could:

• always ask you about your conversations when you hang up the phone
• check what you just got out of the fridge
• supervise what you buy at the grocery store

6. They isolate you from others

Isolating behavior can be subtle, like tuning out the conversation when you share stories about other people or giving you an eye roll when you answer phone calls.

It can also be more overt.

A controlling partner may complain about how much time you spend with other people, like friends or family. They may put down your loved ones or say that they’re a bad influence on you. They may even act in certain ways that create friction when your friends or family are around.

They can also isolate you by demanding your attention with a crisis, in order to prevent you from following through on plans with other people. They might give you the silent treatment whenever you choose to spend time with someone else.

7. They gaslight you

The term “gaslight” is inspired by the 1944 film of the same name. In it, a husband slowly leads his wife to believe she’s losing her mind by doing things like dimming the gaslights and then pretending that he didn’t.

A controlling partner may downplay an experience, like an angry outburst, and then accuse you of being overly sensitive. They may also say something hurtful, then follow it up with, “It was just a joke. You’re being dramatic.” This is gaslighting.

They may even deny saying things, lie to you or tell you that your gut instinct is wrong. At times, they may even ask you to seek help, saying that you’re losing your grip on reality.

8. They invade your privacy

A controlling partner may demand to see your recent chat history, or they may read your diary while you’re at work. They may also constantly ask what you’re thinking or how you’re feeling.

They may monitor your activity, like following you in their car, watching how many steps you take on Fitbit, or keeping track of what you’re doing through social media or searching on Google.

They may also ask to have your passwords and present it as “if you have nothing to hide, why wouldn’t I have those?” You have the right to your privacy and demanding you don’t is a sign of a controlling partner.

9. They trespass on your boundaries

If you say “no” to something, a controlling partner may try to talk you out of it. This can look like pressuring you to change your mind or arguing with you about why you’re wrong.

This goes for physical boundaries as well. For example, you make plans with someone else and let your partner know that you’re going to be unavailable, but your partner shows up at your house uninvited.

Controlling behavior may actually be a defense mechanism for some people — an attempt to cope with a strained inner world.

Sometimes, people focus on trying to control outside circumstances when they’re frightened by what’s happening internally. They may be terrified of being abandoned, anxious about losing control, fearful of getting too close, living with relationship OCD, or feeling uncertain about what’s going to happen next.

When someone behaves in a controlling way, they aren’t necessarily a “bad” person. This may be a clinical symptom of a mental health condition. For example, it may be a sign of a personality disorder, unresolved abuse or trauma, or depression.

However, this doesn’t mean you have to accept behaviors that hurt you or limit your free will. There’s help available for someone who behaves in controlling ways. But providing that support may not be up to you.

By being more aware of the underlying causes of their behavior, you can keep things in perspective and see what’s really going on: They may be in pain. Also, it’s not about you. There’s nothing “wrong” with you.

You deserve to feel at peace and free in all of your relationships.

In a way, a controlling partner and a codependent partner may be two sides of the same coin.

A controlling partner may demand all of the attention, and a codependent partner may assume this control is love and be willing to give them that attention.

Codependency, like controlling behavior, could be an attempt to cope with distressing situations.

The term refers to being “dependent” on another person and putting their needs before your own by engaging in people-pleasing behavior and caregiving.

Sometimes, codependent people may end up in relationships with controlling partners. They become controlling, too.

Change is possible, though. Reaching out to a mental health professional can help you learn to manage both controlling behavior and codependency.

Although childhood experiences may affect your adult relationships, you always have the chance to heal and improve your quality of life.

No matter how you feel right now, you can get your power back.

Someone else’s reaction to your boundaries isn’t your responsibility — it’s theirs.

To set boundaries in your controlling relationship, consider these tips:

• Use “I” statements. For example, “I feel uncomfortable when…”
• Ask for time to process requests. You can say, “I need some time to think about that.”
• Show your compassion, but continue with your plans. For example, “I understand that you feel upset when I go out with my friends, but this is healthy for me. Let’s talk about this later.”
• Negotiate and compromise to get your needs met. For example, “I will silence my phone on our dates, but the rest of the time it may be on. It’s important for me to be available to my loved ones.”
• Write down concerning conversations in a journal or in a notes app. Do this right after the conversations happen so that you have something to refer back to.
• Change the passwords on your devices, social media accounts, and email accounts. Feel free to say “no” if they ask that you share these.
• Keep nurturing other relationships, like trusted friends and family members. Keep in touch with them on a regular basis.
• Reach out to a mental health professional. They can offer guidance about the particulars of your situation. If you believe your partner is willing to put in the effort, invite them to couple’s therapy to discuss important topics in a safe environment.

It can also be helpful to adjust your expectations. You may want to reconsider staying in a relationship in the hope that maybe, one day, they’ll change. In order to heal, a controlling person has to want to change for themselves.

You may also want to focus on behaviors and actions instead of words.

A controlling partner may offer you change or make promises about the future. But if they’re not getting the professional help they need, it may be difficult for them to translate those words into actions.

There’s a wide range of controlling behaviors. Some of these can be worked on and overcome with professional help.

Other behaviors might make you feel insecure and afraid, or they could threaten your safety.

These behaviors include:

• punching walls
• breaking or throwing objects
• bringing weapons into the house
• harming your children or pets
• saying they’ll hurt you (even if it’s disguised as a joke)
• threatening self-harm to prevent you from leaving

If you feel concerned for your safety, it’s important to create a safety exit plan and get help right away.

Consider these steps:

• Seek mental health support. You may want to search for local therapists and support groups. If you can’t leave just yet because your safety is at stake, a professional may be able to support you and monitor the situation.
• Reach out to someone you trust. Tell close friends or family members, as long as they’re trustworthy. You can also reach out to a spiritual leader, like a pastor or rabbi, if that feels more comfortable.
• Remove your personal belongings. If you share a home with a controlling partner, start to move your personal belongings to a safe location a little at a time. If you need to move out all at once, bring people with you and let friends and family know where you are. Avoid moving out by yourself, if possible. You may also consider leaving your things behind until it’s safer to return. In this case, you may want to only take important documents.
• Move to a safe place. Be sure to keep your location secret. Stay in a safe place, like a family member’s home, a friend’s spare bedroom, or a shelter in your local area.

The signs of a controlling partner include isolating you from loved ones, criticizing you, giving you the silent treatment, and gaslighting.

Being in a controlling relationship can be a confusing and overwhelming experience. But you don’t have to go through this on your own. Help is available.

Consider these resources for more information:

• National Domestic Violence Hotline
• love is respect
• Pathways to Safety International
• National Center for Victims of Crime
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Casa de Esperanza

You will get through this. Take it one day — one moment — at a time.