chapter 6
Keeping Your Own Crazy at Bay When You’re Under Attack
It’s Critical to prepare yourself before you enter into a conversation with crazy, but all the preparation in the world won’t help you if you fall apart once that conversation begins.
Confrontations with irrational people typically follow a predictable script. Unfortunately, it’s a bad script. Here’s how it goes: You decide that it’s time to confront the person. You gather your courage. And you start talking. But a few words into the conversation, the person starts seething silently or tossing grenades like these:
“Maybe I’ll just kill myself and make you happy.”
“I know you’ve always hated me. Thanks for proving it.”
“F#@& you.”
“Go to hell.”
“You’re wrong.”
“You’ve always disappointed ...
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