How Toxic Partners Use the Art of Mirroring To Trap You
Think they’re the perfect partner? Before you commit, make sure it’s not an act…
by E.B. Johnson
Have you ever met someone incredible, only to be shocked by their true personality days, weeks, or even years later? Maybe they seemed like a dream-come-true when you first connected, but then a darker side of their behavior manifested. This is a common revelation in the toxic partnership, and a tactic used often by narcissistic and manipulative partners.
It’s a lot like hunting. Drawing you in, this perfect partner shows you all the things you want to see. They are sweet, and loving, and open. But one day a switch flips, and everything changes. The partner you loved disappears and a new, venomous person is standing in their place. Sound familiar? You may be a victim of mirroring…
How toxic partners use mirroring to trap you.
Mirroring is an insidious form of manipulation used by narcissists, abusers, and dividers alike. It allows toxic partners to slip between the cracks and infiltrate our lives in deeply emotional ways. They idealize themselves (and us) by showing us only what we want to see — and then the trap is set. A mirroring partner is a master of illusions…