12. “Everyone thinks you’re difficult.”
Now she’s dragging imaginary people into it. Instead of taking responsibility for a conflict, she recruits vague “others” to back her up, making you feel ganged up on. It’s a manipulation tactic that isolates you and chips away at your self-esteem. You start to wonder who’s secretly judging you or talking behind your back. This keeps you on edge, eager to please, and afraid to speak up. In reality, there probably is no “everyone”—just her. This is one of the most commonly used phrases toxic moms use against their children.