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How to Deal with a Bullying Partner

‘Want to know how to deal with a bullying partner? Here are all the details you need to know.

how to deal with a bullying partner

Bullying partners can be dangerous and life-threatening.

Therefore, in this post, you will learn all about how to deal with a bullying partner. Also, you will learn the tactics they use to make you stay with them and what you can do to escape and get your life back.

Once you learn all about this life-saving information, you will have the encouragement to leave and to take control of your personal safety and your life.

This post is all about how to deal with a bullying partner so that you can recognize the tactics they use to keep you trapped and gather the courage to get out of the relationship.

How to Deal with a Bullying Partner

Whether you call it domestic abuse or spousal abuse, it is still a form of bullying. Only the bullying takes place in the home against a significant other. The reason this is a form of bullying is because there is a clear power imbalance between the abuser and the target.

 Moreover, the attacks, whether physical, verbal, or psychological, are repetitive. They become a pattern and go on over a period of months, years, or decades.

Domestic Abuse is a form of bullying

The bully in the home, (or domestic abuser) abuses the target verbally, emotionally, and/or physically. They do this to assert power and dominance and keep their partner from leaving the relationship.

If the abused partner succumbs to the abuse, the bullying partner traps them in a cycle of torment. Also, the abuser blocks them from defending themselves and gaining any kind of independence.

If you find yourself in this type of situation, the bully feels they must use force to keep you in line. Why? Because your abuser is a life loser who have no social intelligence and no redeeming qualities.

If the bullying and abuse you suffer is in the late stages, Things can become life-threatening really fast. And you may wonder how things got so out of control. Here’s how.

Somewhere along the way, your abuser learned through experience that being a loving partner didn’t work. Moreover, they may have been taught that calmly talking out any issues, or seduction and soft persuasion were signs of weakness.

Most domestic abusers grew up in an abusive household. They were either abused by a parent or they watched a parent being abused by the other parent.

Nevertheless, they never learned how to love. They never learned social skills and how to use positive re-enforcement. Also, they never mastered the art of charm or soft persuasion.

Therefore, the only thing these pathetic souls have left in their toolbox is the use of intimation, force, and violence.

How to Deal with a Bullying Partner:

Here are ways that domestic bullies keep control and dominance over their partners:

1. Verbal abuse.

If you have a partner that subtly puts you down through jokes or offhand comments, it is still verbal abuse. Only you are in the early stages and the abuse is so subtle you hardly recognize it.

However, you must understand that this stage is the safest time to leave the relationship. And the longer you stay, the worse the abuse will get and the more danger you’ll face when you finally do walk away.

 Know that you deserve to live a peaceful life on your own for a while. And when you’re ready to love again, you deserve a partner who respects you. And you should select one who treats you with love.

Again, you owe it to yourself to get out of the relationship before the abuse gets any worse. 

Anyone who screams, yells, curses you, or calls you degrading names does not love you. They only want to exert power and control over you. They may claim they love you but actions speak louder than words..

Therefore, you must find a path of escape and disappear. Why? Because verbal bullying tends to turn physical if you don’t address it.

Do what you must do to get yourself to safety. I realize that it’s hard to leave someone you love. However, if your partner doesn’t love you enough to treat you with respect, you’re better off alone.

At least you can live in peace when you’re by yourself. Also, you make room for someone who truly loves you to come into your life.

2. How to Deal with a Bullying Partner:

Domestic abusers may use Physical abuse.

Nobody wants to be physically beaten. Therefore, many people will submit to a bully just to keep from getting hurt.

However, submission only provides physical safety in the short term. Why? Because bullies and abusers always come back for more.

If nothing else, know this! If they hit you once, they’ll do it again. Like school bullying, workplace bullying, and neighborhood bullying, spousal or domestic bullying can intensify quickly.

It can become a pattern and escalate because bullies and abusers grow comfortable with abusing you. They always pushing the envelope.

In other words, when they get bored with verbal abuse, they will begin to commit “borderline physical abuse,” which is shoving or tripping. Next, they’ll up the ante to blatant physical abuse through punching, choking, kicking.

After that, they’ll progress on to severe beatings. And the beatings will get more brutal until your abuser ends up killing you.

If you are being physically abused, it’s imperative that you call police and a battered partner’s shelter to get help. Find a way to get out of the relationship.

The last thing you want is to end up dead and any children you have to become orphaned.

3. Controlling the purse strings.

Domestic bullies are notorious for keeping a tight fist on any household income. They refuse to give their partners any money for things they need.

Moreover, spousal bullies may prevent their partners from going to work and making their own money. If the abused partner happens to have a job, the abusive partner will demand that they give them the money. Or they may force them to quit their jobs.

Understand that the reason these bullies are so stingy with the money is because they want to control you. They know that having your own money brings freedom and independence.

Your abuser is afraid that you just might skip out on them one day, while they’re at work. Therefore, the last thing your abuser wants is for you to have the resources to live on your own.

And what better way is there to keep you stuck in the relationship than to keep you broke?

4. How to Deal with a Bullying Partner:

Abusers keep control of you by Isolating you from family and friends.

Domestic abusers try to cut you off from your family and friends because they’re afraid of any support you might receive. Therefore, they isolate you from anyone outside the relationship.

Another reason they try to prevent you from seeing the people you care about is that they’re afraid you might talk about the abuse. Moreover, the abuser is scared that your family and friends might advise you to drop them.

And gasp! You just might take their advice!

Therefore, they keep you all to themselves to abuse and degrade at will. Again, you must find a way to get away from this person…fast!

5. Using children as leverage.

Many spousal bullies will threaten to take the children and never allow the abused partner to see them again. I’ve heard and read many stories like this.

Spousal bullies use the love you have for your children to intimidate you into staying with them. Therefore, you stay with them out of fear and they get to continue the abuse.

However, understand that when an abusive partner does this, they don’t really love the children nor want what’s best for them. They only use the poor kids as pawns to keep you under their control. 

How to Deal with a Bullying Partner:

How to Escape Your Abuser?

If you want to protect yourself and your children, you must find a way to leave the relationship. Otherwise, your children can end up with long-term emotional trauma if you don’t take them and get away.

So, please. I beg you. Get your ducks in a row and leave this person, not only for your own safety, but for that of your precious children.

1. Get Legal and Financial Help.

Anytime there’s physical violence, get the police involved. They may or may not arrest the abuser, but if you make a police report, it will be on record.

Also, there are assistance programs that can help victims of abuse. Look into them.

2. Keep a Hidden Stash of Money, if possible.

Depending on your situation, keeping money hidden away can make it easier for you to escape your abuser.

3. Find People who can help you.

Besides your friends and family, there are organizations that can assist you if you suffer domestic violence. There are battered women’s shelters and government assistance programs that can help you get on your feet.

4. Get Therapy.

Getting therapy can not only help you heal, it can also give you records of any psychological trauma.

How to Deal with a Bullying Partner:

In Conclusion

Understand that anyone who must bully and abuse their partner is highly insecure in the relationship. They are the weak ones. They are the cowards.

If you are the target in an abusive relationship, I want you to know that none of it is your fault. Realize that it’s not your responsibility to fix this person.

Know that you owe it to yourself, your children, and your family and friends to find a way out of the relationship. And you must do it so that you can lead a better, happier, and more productive life.

Moreover, you must leave so that your children, family, and friends do not risk losing a loved one to murder.

Know that you’re worth it. And you deserve to be free of bullying and lead a life of peace and safety!

If you’ve suffered domestic abuse, please feel free to tell your story in the comment section below. Also, if I’ve left anything out, let me know in the comments.

This post was all about how to deal with a bullying partner so that you can know what to look for and have the courage to get out of the relationship sooner rather than later.

Related posts you’ll enjoy:

1. How to Deal with Physical Bullies

2. Physical Bullying Information: 5 Must-Know Secrets Bullies Don’t Want You to Know

3. How to Deal with Bullies: 7 Do’s and Don’ts You Need to Know

Home Health Aids Bullied By Client’s Family

Younger man visiting older man in a hospital or elder care facility

Millions of home health care aides report bullying by their client’s families and sometimes the client themselves. I worked in healthcare for 11 years and I have certainly had it happen to me. But I was lucky. I was in a position where I would drop the client’s case and walk away. However, many home health aides feel trapped in hostile environments and aren’t in a position to get out.
Moreover, I know a home health worker who cared for a client six hours per day. She worked four days a week and the elderly client was satisfied with the help she give her. Yet the client’s family totally screwed everything up for her (the client). And the worker had no choice but to drop the client in her refusal to deal with the family.
I’ll call this worker, Shelly. And we’ll call the client, Mrs. Shayes.
Here’s what she had to say when she told me her story:
Younger hands holding elderly hands in support
“I truly feel bad for my former client, Mrs. Shayes (not the client’s real name). Her family bullied good care workers and I truly felt bad for her. But I had to put my own health first and walk because these people were bordering on dangerous. I was the ninth worker this poor lady had in the span of only a year. So, that, in itself, spoke volumes.
When I first began working for and taking care of Mrs. Shayes, I noticed several red flags. The family members would talk such trash about the last health care worker who took care of her. Yet they put me on a pedestal because I did my job and was dedicated to my client.  Although, this made me suspicious and leery of these people, I continued to do my job. I showed up every morning and did what I needed to do to meet her needs.
An Unsanitary house
Eww!! Concept of disgust
The client lived in a house with six healthy adults, including two who were freeloaders. Two babies also lived there. The place was so filthy, it looked like a hog pin. Some mornings, I would arrive to see a dirty diaper or two lying in the dinner table- seriously! A dookie diaper! On the kitchen table! Where people eat!
Furthermore, When I went to do Mrs. Shayes’ laundry, I would go into the laundry room and wade through two feet of wall-to-wall dirty and smelly clothes to get to the washer and dryer. The living room and hallway floors were also spotted with dog and cat pee/poop and the stench was enough to make you gag!
It was disgusting- so disgusting that flies and gnats were buzzing everywhere. In short, the place was a real sh*thole! These people were nasty!
female home health care aide assisting an elderly male client
Poor Mrs. Shayes and two toddlers lived in this! It just goes to show what pigs her family were. And I know I shouldn’t say these things, but these people definitely shouldn’t be allowed to have children or a helpless elderly woman in their care. Because, I kid you not, these people lived live cockroaches.
I say cockroaches because animals lived better than this.
A toxic family and work environment
Also, I would personally witness them yell and curse Mrs. Shayes on a regular basis and it would absolutely infuriate me to no end. It takes the lowest kind of lowlife to abuse an elderly and disabled person. It occurred to me that they did this as a way to control her.
man with many faces
Words cannot describe what rotten maggot ridden garbage I worked around. Not only did I fear for this lady, I also feared for my own health as well. You just knew that house was a breeding ground for bad bacteria.
Additionally, when I informed the company after work, they informed me that they had contacted the state and an ombudsman on numerous occasions.
This family was so dysfunctional that they would even curse each other out and get into fights and screaming matches. I can tell you why I stayed. I continued to work in that kind of environment because I worried for the client. But, in the back of my mind, I knew that it was only a matter of time before they would come for me.
And sure enough, they did.
The company I worked for set it up that each morning I arrived, I was to call in from one of the family member’s cellphones. It was  how I reported that I’d arrived at the client’s residence to start my shift. Everyone in the family were night owls so they often slept until about 1-2pm. So, most days, I would wake one of them up in order to use a cellphone to call in.
A ground of wooden men with several arrows pointing to a single blue man, mobbing concept
However, When I woke the 21 year old grandson to use his phone, he shouted at me and threw the phone at me because I’d awakened him.
Later that day, I called somewhat of a meeting with the family and attempted to resolve the problem. I asked if someone could leave their phone sitting in the kitchen where I could call in without waking one of them. That’s when Mrs. Shayes, granddaughter’s boyfriend, who lived with them at the time, blew up and approached me like he was going to physically attack me. Talk about a house full of wolves!
under threat of physical attack
As such, I demanded in a stern voice that he ‘get away from me, now!’ But he kept inching his way closer. That’s when I was done. No way was I going to allow these lowlifes to abuse and talk down to me. I immediately called the company from my cellphone and told them that I was leaving, that these people were batshit crazy, and I never wanted to work at this residence again.
Skull and crossbones with the word, "Toxic" underneath
So, I “fired” them! It was good riddance to bad rubbish. And when I walked away from these people, my company understood because, as I said before, I had been the ninth worker they’d sent to the residence. Therefore, they didn’t terminate me. They’d just gotten a new client and they sent me there minutes after I left “the wolves den.”
However, the sad thing is that in abusing their loved one’s health aid, they made it difficult for Mrs. Shayes to keep good workers to take care of her. So, I believe that she was the one who suffered the most from this.
God opened an even bigger and better door for me! I had the good sense and courage to walk away and got a better client, so I ended up winning. Yay me! Just say no to drama!
a family investigated by the state
From what someone told me later, the state continued to investigate these people. I don’t know what came of Mrs. Shayes but I can only hope and pray that the state removed her from the home and placed her in a clean environment with caring people where she could be safe and live out her golden years in peace…”
Sign that reads, "Contaminated Area"
I feel for Shelly, but even more, I feel for the lady who lived under such conditions and, like Shelly, who obviously hated to leave because she felt as if she was leaving her client to be abused, I hope the lady ended up in a more wholesome environment.
Also,  I’m proud of Shelly for putting her safety first and escaping such a toxic family. Know that home healthcare workers do a thankless job and they’re often the objects of bullying either by the client, or their families. And most often, it is the families of the clients who abuse these workers and I would advice any home health aid never to be afraid to walk out if these conditions arrive.
Shelly was lucky in that she had the support of the company she worked for. In most cases, however, most companies will side with the abusers. And, if that’s the case, than these companies do not deserve to have such dedicated workers under their employ.
Understand that when you work in someone else’s home, it puts you at the mercy of not only the client, but also their families.
With knowledge comes empowerment!