When You want to Go But Your Partner Threatens to Hurt Themselves if You Do!

Have you ever been in a relationship where your partner has threatened to hurt themselves if you leave?  Unfortunately, this is a surprisingly common situation that I hear from a lot of you. In today’s Language of Love Bite, I want to equip you with a few tools to navigate a situation with someone who is either genuinely at risk or might be using suicidal thoughts as emotional blackmail. The tips I outline will hopefully give you some comfort and peace when navigating a stressful situation such as this.  In this Bite, I explore: What emotional manipulation looks like  The important difference between Suicidal thoughts/ideation vs. a suicidal plan How to spot some of the red flags in someone at risk Steps to take to leave the relationship in a way that leaves your partner protected.  If you’re afraid that your partner is going to hurt themselves and don’t know what to do, call a clinician, 1-800-273-8255, or dial the suicide hot line 988. Erring on the side of caution will give you the peace of mind that you need. No matter what happens, remember that no one is entitled to hold you emotional (or any kind of) hostage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Om Podcasten

Language of Love is a weekly podcast where Dr. Berman shares her compassionate, humorous, and no-nonsense advice: answering listener questions and interviewing thought leaders and experts on relevant topics. Dr. Berman is ready to help you create the fulfilling and passionate love life you deserve, regardless of your relationship status, gender, or sexual orientation. Are you ready to get started?