Psychology Today | 15.01.2026 22:18
How do you handle it when someone is criticizing, invalidating, or being mean to you? Do you fight back, shut down, appease, or walk away? Sometimes these strategies are super effective. Other times, they escalate conflict, increase resentment, or damage your relationship and self-respect. To be fair, sometimes you need these strategies; in some situations, escalating or avoiding is very effective.
