If you haven’t come across any dangerously difficult people – in the office or even at home – then either you’re very lucky, or you just haven’t seen the signs. Sociopaths, psychopaths, bullies, manipulators, or even “I just tell it like it is” – dangerously difficult people go by many names. But the impact on you is unmistakable. You feel exhausted, apprehensive, worried, and it seems to centre around this person. And you blame yourself for it. You feel guilty for recognising them as a dangerously difficult person, and doubt yourself – “maybe they’re not so bad after all, am I being too harsh?”
Starting to sound familiar? Like so many others, I’ve had to deal with dangerously difficult people. Every time it’s been difficult and depressing. But its also given me two things:
- A wealth of experience (to supplement my psychological training) in recognising the signs and planning how to fight back;
- A realisation: how little material there is out there (George Simon’s blog is a very honourable exception), and how many people are looking for help.
Here’s my method of preparing and coping: