5 signs of an emotional homewrecker

We’ve all heard of emotional cheating, but did you know emotional home-wrecking can be just as bad, if not worse?

Picture this: You're chatting with a friend and they suddenly bring up their relationship. There's no trouble in paradise—no insecurities, just a conversation about how strong their bond is and how trust is paramount. And then, out of nowhere, you mention how their partner has been spending more time with someone else at work or in their social circle. You act like you’re just being observant and tell them how great it is that they’re so trusting, but what you're really doing is planting seeds of doubt, whether you realise it or not. This is how an emotional homewrecker quietly stirs up trouble in an otherwise solid relationship.

But that's not all. Unlike a physical home-wrecker, who might disrupt a relationship through an affair or direct approach, an emotional homewrecker will use psychological tactics such as manipulation, gaslighting, and pick-me behaviour to cause emotional rifts between couples, which can be hard to repair.

The thing about emotional homewrecking is that you could be causing trouble without even realising it. So are you an emotional homewrecker? Here are five signs you might be unknowingly sabotaging someone else's relationship.

 

Crossing boundaries 

Boundaries are something that an emotional homewrecker often struggles with, and it’s one of the biggest giveaways. Being overly friendly or touchy, inserting yourself in conversations and situations that don’t involve (or require) you, and hanging out with them alone without their partner’s knowledge are all inappropriate behaviours. Not to mention, they indicate a lack of respect for personal space and others' relationships, and if you didn’t already know that, you may be a major part of the problem. So do yourself a favour and take a step back!

Constant pick-me behaviour 

 

We’ve all seen this at some point or the other. People who feel the need to be seen and heard all the time, especially by individuals who are taken. Laughing too loud, trying too hard to be the funniest person in the room, making fun of their partner’s insecurities in front of them and other people are all tactics to make sure all eyes are on you all the time, especially the one you’re trying to entice. It's not a good look at all. It spotlights your underlying insecurities or unfulfilled desires while harming real relationships and creating awkwardness and stress for those involved.

Manipulative tactics

Are you constantly trying to “be there for them”? We strongly believe that couples should have their own individual lives outside their relationship, however, trying to be the one they reach out to can be problematic on both your parts. People in relationships should be able to share things with their partners, and you trying to be the one they reach out to, when they are happy or sad, is an unfair and manipulative tactic that can and will cause issues in their relationship and some point or the other.

Lead image credit: Netflix 

Also read: Does rushing into a relationship ever work?

Also read: Is taking a break from your relationship healthy?