3 Things Psychopaths Say to Make You Feel Crazy

Published by
Christina Lawson, B.A.

Although many people think psychopaths are serial killers and mass murderers, it’s actually a term used for a personality type who fulfil basic non-violent criteria.

Psychopaths are all around us, including our politicians, local business men & women and that person you sat next to on the bus this morning. Anybody can be a psychopath. But that doesn’t mean they’re going to go and commit serious crimes any time soon.

In fact, only 20-25% of prisoners are psychopaths. This means that the term really doesn’t have anything to do with having a violent or criminal nature.

So what actually makes somebody a psychopath? Well, traits such as being very charismatic and charming, having little to no empathy and a grandiose sense of self-worth are clues that somebody is a psychopath. But generally, they can be quite difficult to spot.

The best way to explain a psychopath is to say that they are master manipulators who can modify their own personalities and behaviours in order to become exactly the person you want them to be.

Here are some things psychopaths commonly say to manipulate you into thinking you’re going crazy:

1. “You read too much into everything.”

If you have certain suspicions and somebody tells you that you are reading too much into it, they may be right. However, if you’re right about a psychopath and they’re telling you that you are over-analysing something, more often than not, they’re manipulating you into thinking you’re the one in the wrong so that they can get away with whatever it is you’re suspecting them of.

For example, they may intentionally flirt with somebody in front of you. Then, when you react the way they knew you would, they tell you that you’re overreacting and reading too much into the situation. Whether they do it purposefully or not, psychopaths are often making you feel insecure about things, then blaming you for that anxiety.

2. “I hate drama, you’re always arguing”

Psychopaths are perpetually bored, so they create drama and problems within relationships just to stir things up a bit. Then, once you react to certain things they’ve caused, they accuse you of starting drama and/or always wanting to argue. Again, they may not be consciously doing this, but it’s a pattern of behaviour that will play on repeat throughout the relationship.

3. “You’re crazy”

A psychopath will often do things to stir up trouble, plant seeds of doubt in your mind and leave you feeling insecure about yourself and your relationship. Then they’ll call you crazy for reacting to it.

A prime example is they will plant seeds of doubt that they are texting other people. So when you happen to glance at their texts to reassure yourself, they notice and call you out on it. They will claim that you are crazy and/or controlling. Pay close attention to the way they speak about their exes in this scenario, as it can give you a big hint to the way they behave.

Psychopaths are master manipulators and without consciously meaning to, they can create endless problems in your life. If you have somebody who is currently making you feel any of the above, it may well be time to assess your relationship. Let me know in the comments if you can identify with any of these points or if you have any of your own to add.

References:

  1. www.mindbodygreen.com

View Comments

  • I just got out of a relationship with a psychopath most likely narcissistic personality disorder as well. He would love to tear me down just to be the one to bring me back up. The verbal abuse the put downs were on a daily basis. If i didn’t give in to his control he would turn physically violent with me. If I ever wanted to go out it was the biggest issue and I just would end up not going to avoid problems. I lived my life that way for three years curled up in a ball to scared to leave to scared to do anything but i finally made the decision that it was time to put myself first and my mental health is the most important thing. I can happily say that I left and I will never ever be going back to that.

  • I am married to a pyschopath/sociopath. But I am now filing for divorce from him. He agreed to join me in Dominican Rep (I am in the UK) and he was meant to fly from the USA (where he is), and he never turned up. He stood me up and never called, texted, emailed nada. Till now, I have not heard from him-nearly 2mths. Last time I spoke to his manager (approx 2wks ago), he told me he too had not heard anything from him, and that he had not been to work for over a month. Also, as he is a truck driver, his boss also told me my husband had a co-driver (team), which he never told me about. He would always come up with some story that made no sense in order to steer me away from his true motives. He told me last year that he went to Houston (a month after the hurricane hit) that he went to help people, by handing out food and water. I asked him whereabouts in Houston he was, he told me Houston. He wouldn't give me any details, which made me suspicious. The fact that he wouldn't tell me WHERE in Houston he was, made me think it wasn't true. Also, I had found photo evidence to prove that the water had subsided literally a month later! Some parts had little flooding, but most of the city was back to normal, so tell me what do you think?
    I am a sensitive person, and he kept doing disappearing acts and then telling me he needs him time, bearing in mind I am in the UK and he is in the USA at our apartment that we share (well we were going through a visa process-which I doubt is happening now). He is a liar and a master manipulator and always feigns empathy. He told his boss he was going to Houston to help his friends due to the hurricane (Oct 18) but he knew (as he had bought his ticket) to be with me in D.R.

    I am still upset and feel stupid for falling for his lies once again - this time is worse coz we got married :( Now, I cannot even travel to the USA due to him and the US embassy, and I am never going back to him.

    We have known each other for 8years, but he broke up with me in 2012 by email for no reason and also no explanation just series of excuses. And then when he came back into my life, I was with someone else, and that was going south, so I left and then went to see my now husband. He told me he missed me and wanted me back, the guy couldn't even remember how he broke up with me neither could he (so he says) remember why.

    He acts like he cares, and loves but he loves no-one but himself. He is a selfish person, and knows exactly what he is doing. He thinks he can't be found, but his lies will catch up to him. And I hope they do, because he is liar and deserves nothing and no-one.
    He never even told his dad that we were married! And it's been 2yrs! He has a lot to hide, and I can't wait to get away from him.

  • After reading all this pretty much sums up how my oldest brother acts. He simply cannot talk in a discussion without it ending in an argument where he is right and you are wrong and you like to argue. I had to get a computer with internet to get information to have him stop arguing. Well now it personal things which you cant check on the computer and makes it even more hurtful and hateful. he is just like a kindergarten kid start something then no you did it. He disputes practically everything you say. He gets so angry,my wife who was a nurse thought he was having a stroke but I told her probably just one of his fits of rage, ended up he was angry because he thought someone damaged his property which was not the truth. Thank god he doesnt visit very often because I become sick just seeing him because right away he gets into politics to try to argue.

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Published by
Christina Lawson, B.A.