A controlling boyfriend may not all the time be easy to identify instantly. Some signs are clear, like when he tells you what to wear or who you may hang around with.
Other signs are less obvious, like making you are feeling guilty for spending time with friends or family. It’s vital to note these signs because they’ll affect how pleased and free you are feeling in your relationship.
This article lists 15 major signs of a controlling boyfriend. Knowing these signs can make it easier to make the very best selections in your happiness and well-being.
1. He keeps tabs on you
A controlling boyfriend might need to know where you might be on a regular basis.
Say you’re hanging out with friends or simply running to the shop; he might text you continually and even ask you to send pictures to prove where you might be.
This form of behavior shows he won’t trust you, which isn’t healthy in a relationship.
Another way he might keep tabs on you is by checking your phone or social media.
Maybe he asks to see your messages or gets upset in case you don’t share your passwords with him.
When someone feels the necessity to watch what you’re doing online, it’s an indication they need control somewhat than connection.
2. He criticizes lots
Sometimes, a controlling boyfriend will make you are feeling like you may’t do anything right.
Maybe while you pick a movie, he says it’s a foul selection or dismisses your opinions as in the event that they don’t matter.
This constant criticism could make you doubt your personal decisions and feel less confident.
In addition, he might criticize the best way you look or the garments you wear. You might hear him say things like your outfit is just too revealing or not stylish enough.
By making you query your appearance, he’s attempting to influence the way you present yourself to the world, which is all about control.
[Also Read: 12 Signs Your Boyfriend Is Wasting Your Time]
3. He isolates you from others
One of the more serious signs is when he tries to chop you off from your pals and family.
He might make plans that only involve the 2 of you, on a regular basis, or get moody when you wish to spend time with others.
Over time, you would possibly start seeing your family members less and fewer, which isn’t good in your overall well-being.
He may also speak poorly of the people you care about, suggesting they don’t have your best interests at heart or that they’re a foul influence.
His goal is to make you are feeling like he’s the just one you may trust, trapping you in a relationship where he holds all the facility.
4. He makes all the selections
Ever notice that he’s the one who decides the whole lot you do together?
From selecting the restaurant to picking the movie, it looks like your opinions don’t actually matter.
A controlling boyfriend often desires to be in command of every selection, making you are feeling such as you’re just along for the ride.
Even in greater life decisions, like where to go on vacation or when to host parties, he won’t ask what you think that.
You must have a say in plans, especially in the event that they affect you too. This pattern is all about keeping the facility in his hands.
5. He gets jealous easily
Jealousy is a standard issue, but in a controlling relationship, it may get intense.
Say you’re chatting with another person at a celebration, he might come over and pull you away or start an argument about it later. He uses jealousy to justify keeping a detailed watch on you.
Sometimes, he might even accuse you of flirting or being concerned with others with none reason.
Constant accusations are a tactic to make you are feeling guilty for normal interactions, which might lead you to avoid socializing just to maintain the peace.
[Related: 10 Habits Of An Insecure Boyfriend]
6. He disregards your boundaries
A healthy relationship respects boundaries. But with a controlling boyfriend, you would possibly find him pushing against the bounds you set.
For example, you tell him you wish some alone time, but he keeps calling or shows up uninvited. This shows a scarcity of respect in your personal space.
Ignoring your boundaries can even appear in how he talks to you or demands your attention.
No matter how you are feeling, he expects you to be available at his convenience. Overstepping these personal limits is a transparent sign of control.
7. He uses guilt as a tool
You’ve probably heard him say things like, “You’d do this if you loved me,” each time you disagree or say no.
Using guilt is one in all his strategies to sway you into doing what he wants. It’s manipulative since it makes you query your feelings and decisions.
He may also bring up past favors or sacrifices he’s made as a solution to owe him something.
This form of emotional blackmail is geared toward making you are feeling indebted and more likely to present in to his demands. Such tactics are unfair and are all about maintaining control over you.
8. He’s quick to anger
A brief fuse generally is a major red flag. You might notice he gets really upset over small things, like if dinner is late otherwise you miss a call from him.
His anger seems to come back out of nowhere and could be form of scary. The fear of setting him off might stop you from speaking your mind.
Sometimes, his anger isn’t loud. He might offer you the silent treatment or act coldly when he’s upset.
This could make you are feeling such as you’re walking on eggshells, all the time attempting to guess easy methods to keep him pleased and avoid conflict.
9. He makes you doubt yourself
Have you ever felt smarter or more capable while you’re not around him?
That’s because a controlling boyfriend might chip away at your confidence.
He could dismiss your achievements or suggest you’re not excellent at making decisions. These comments could make you doubt your abilities and rely more on him.
What’s tricky is that sometimes he might play the role of the helper, suggesting he’s just attempting to improve you.
Over time, you would possibly begin to feel like you may’t do anything right without his help, which keeps you depending on him.
10. He demands constant updates
Imagine you’re just out with friends, and your phone keeps buzzing.
He desires to know the whole lot: who you’re with, what you’re doing, and even why you’re not answering fast enough. Requiring constant updates is his way of keeping you under his watch.
And let’s say you choose to not share every little detail; he might get really upset. This form of behavior is about ensuring you’re all the time inside his reach and control, which isn’t cool or fair.
11. He dislikes your independence
When you do things on your personal, like taking a category or starting a hobby, he isn’t pleased for you; as a substitute, he might attempt to make you are feeling bad for it.
He could suggest that your latest interests are a waste of time or that they’re taking you away from him.
His discomfort along with your independence shows he’s more concerned with control than your happiness.
Often, he’ll frame his negativity as concern—he might say he’s just frightened you’re spreading yourself too thin or that these activities aren’t good for you.
But really, it’s about keeping you close up and under his influence, away from things which may offer you confidence and freedom.
12. He questions your loyalty
Trust needs to be a no brainer in relationship, but a controlling boyfriend might act like you might want to prove your loyalty on a regular basis.
Let’s say you’re just chatting with an old friend online. He might see that as a betrayal, not only a traditional chat. His constant doubt could make you are feeling such as you’re all the time on trial, which is exhausting.
And it’s not nearly jealousy. He might keep bringing up past situations where he felt you were disloyal, using them as evidence which you could’t be trusted.
This tactic is all about making you’re employed harder to earn his trust, even while you haven’t done anything flawed.
13. He tries to alter who you might be
Loving someone normally means you accept them for who they’re. However, a controlling boyfriend might pick at your personality.
Say you’re a bubbly, outgoing person. He might say you’re too loud or too energetic. Little by little, his comments might make you are feeling like you might want to tone down just to maintain him pleased.
This goes beyond easy suggestions; it appears like he desires to mold you into another person, someone easier for him to regulate.
You might begin to lose bits of what makes you unique, which isn’t right.
14. He dismisses your feelings
Say you’re feeling upset or frightened about something.
Instead of listening, a controlling boyfriend might let you know you’re overreacting or being too sensitive.
Brushing off your feelings this manner is his try to make you query your emotions and to see things his way.
Moreover, during arguments, he might refuse to acknowledge your perspective, insisting that you just’re flawed to feel hurt or upset.
This dismissal can leave you feeling unheard and unimportant, pushing you to suppress your emotions to avoid conflict.
15. He limits your resources
Control can even show up in how he handles the sensible parts of your life.
Maybe he’s not cool with you having your personal money or insists on managing the bills and budget alone.
Keeping you at the hours of darkness about funds or not allowing you to have financial independence is a significant control move.
He might even limit your access to transportation or your personal phone, making it tough so that you can make plans without his involvement.
These actions are designed to limit your options, making it harder so that you can make decisions without his approval or to go away the connection in case you select.
