Dating today can feel like a maze of mixed signals and emotional games. From negging and breadcrumbing to lovebombing and gaslighting, emotional manipulation can leave you questioning your worth and reality. In this post, therapist Odile McKenzie, LCSW, breaks down each behavior, shares real examples, and helps you learn how to spot these red flags early—so you can protect your peace and date from a place of self-worth.

People-pleasing and self-sacrifice may look similar, but they come from different roots—both shaped by trauma, family systems, and cultural expectations. While these behaviors once protected us from rejection or abandonment, they often keep us stuck in cycles of guilt and overgiving. Learn how to pause before saying “yes,” build distress tolerance, and practice self-compassion so you can choose yourself without fear.