Passive aggressive communication is one of the most frustrating things that people deal with. But, it can also be avoided if you know what to look for and how to react. In this article, we are going to give you some great tips on how to avoid being passive aggressive yourself and how to deal with the passive aggressiveness that others may display.
After reading this article, you will understand 10 ways of dealing with someone who is passive aggressive.
1. Take A Deep Breath And Relax
If someone tries to tell you off for something, decides to criticize everything that you do or refuses to acknowledge your presence then there is no need to react aggressively yourself. While it may be difficult not to retaliate when confronted with such passive aggressive actions and words, at the end of the day reacting in kind will only make things worse. Always try to control your temper and react politely even if the other person is being rude.
2. If You Are Feeling Upset Then Don't Hold Back
It is perfectly natural to feel hurt or angry after a confrontation with a passive aggressive person but you must express your feelings in an appropriate manner and not allow yourself to be taken advantage of. Showing anger will only fuel their aggression further and will only make them behave worse, so don't give them that satisfaction. Instead, when you feel yourself about to lose it and begin lashing out at them then walk away from the situation as calmly as possible.
3. Don't Let Them Get To You
It is usually impossible to control the actions of another person so you must learn to deal with their passive aggressive behavior accordingly. Over time, passive aggressive people will eventually ruin your happiness and create an environment for themselves where they are in total control. However, if you make a conscious effort to remain positive and ignore them then this will force them to change their attitude. Remember that everyone is entitled to an opinion but no one is entitled to be rude or hurtful.
4. Try To Stay Calm
When confronted with a passive aggressive person it is important not only to stay calm but also remain in control of the situation. If you allow them to get the better of you then they will continue to dominate and rule over your emotions. This can be very dangerous and create an environment where you are always on edge and don't feel secure. So, if someone is being passive aggressive then try to remain calm even in the most trying of situations.
5. Don't Let Them Bully You
The most important thing that you can do when dealing with a passive aggressive person is not to let them take advantage of you. They thrive on being difficult and creating tension in others but if you don't rise to the bait then they will eventually give up. Instead of wasting your time trying to change their attitudes or attempting to reason with them then simply walk away from the situation and find someone else to talk to.
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6. Don't Give Them The Satisfaction Of A Reaction
Another way of dealing with passive aggressive people is to simply ignore them and act as if they are not even there. Passive aggressive people thrive on attention, particularly negative attention, so giving it to them will only feed their ego and cause them to behave even worse. So, when confronted by a passive aggressive person then do not give in to their demands and don't allow yourself to become upset at what they might say or do. Just walk away from the conversation and find someone else to talk to.
7. Don't Take Them Too Seriously
While it is important to recognize the negative influence of a passive aggressive person in your life, you must also avoid taking them too seriously. Passive aggressive people are usually just as unhappy with their own lives as they are with yours so you should not feel guilty or as if you have done something wrong when they make you feel bad. They have their own issues that need resolving and all that they want is attention, so don't give it to them by letting them upset you emotionally.
8. Get Rid Of Them
At the end of the day you have to be honest with yourself and decide if you can live with a passive aggressive person in your life. If they are constantly giving you a hard time in one way or another then you must ask yourself whether this is something that can be changed or if it is a normal part of their personality. If you determine that passive aggressive behavior is something that will always be there then you must accept this as fact and get rid of them from your life permanently.
9. Don't Feel Guilty
Finally, when dealing with a passive aggressive person, always make sure that you don't feel guilty about the situation because they will surely try to make you feel bad about it. Passive aggressive people thrive on creating conflict and being difficult for others but you must not give them that satisfaction by allowing them to get to you. And when you come across as too sensitive then it will only cause more problems in your life and make you more upset.
10. Don't Give Them The Final Word
Finally, one of the most important things that you can do when dealing with a passive aggressive person is to make sure that they don't get their way. Sometimes they will decide to tell their side of the story even if you have already heard the other person's side.
Takeaway
Passive aggression is a form of behavior that allows people to be difficult for others by deliberately avoiding conflict. Those who tend to be passive aggressive often have the expectation that their actions will go unnoticed and unquestioned so they do not feel the need to justify their own actions. However, if you are in a relationship with someone who is passive aggressive then you must learn to recognize this type of behavioral pattern and deal with it accordingly.