i think everyone has known one person like this in their lives. the type of person who didn't like you ideas because it wasn't theirs, they have the my way or the highway attitude, the are always unsatisfied and even get so bossy it can lead to bullying. i know control freaks have anxiety and insecurity issues. i've dealt with three people like this, two of which are family members.

care to share your experiences in dealing with these types of people before they drive you crazy?

Well, my mom's long-time boyfriend is a control freak. She is as well, to an extent. He is also a semi-hoarder. He likes to make all plans centered around him. I'm a control freak when it comes to my home and personal space. But I don't think that's unreasonable. I just like my small piece of existence to be the way I like it and not changed.

I find it really hard to deal with these people. I find the "my way or the highway" attitude to be quite narcissistic. But I also realize that people who are very controlling tend to be that way because they are insecure or just have a warped view of reality, as Mask said.

My tactic for dealing with them is: 1. Keep in mind that they are out of touch with reality - that I can't reason with them but I can do my best to get along with them, and that I shouldn't take anything personally. 2. Do whatever I can to get along with them, including doing what I'm told (because arguing / reasoning will accomplish nothing). 3. Keep my distance from them as much as possible.

That said, I still have no idea what to do when people I work with try to make me take the blame for their mistakes. I've noticed that controlling and excessively competitive people tend to do this.

My father is the biggest control freak I've met. He's always right, everything always has to go his way, if he does something wrong it's anybody's fault but his. He has a very short temper so there's no calm or reasonable way of dealing with him. My mother has been with him for twenty years and still hasn't figured him out. We're a lot alike.

My friend is like a bit like this, if you correct him on anything he gets really defensive and puts on a serious voice, even if you were having a lighthearted conversation. The only way I deal with it is just make his mistake SO obvious that he has to accept it, and even then he'll try and get on top somehow, it gets quite pathetic sometimes. I hate people with no humility (if thats the right word)

I think my family would describe me as a control freak, I'd agree to a certain extent. There are certain things that I get very controlling and possessive over, but, especially over the last few years, I feel like I've backed off quite a lot and tried to not be so domineering.

My mom's boyfriend whom she got with shortly after my parents got divorced is the same thing. I'm really stubborn in the face of what I feel are unreasonable restrictions, so I couldn't move out of my mom's house fast enough. Besides, my mother would sometimes use my stubborn attitude as an excuse why their relationship didn't always go smoothly. Quite unfair.

there are four things i usually do when dealing with these type of people.

the first is just convincing them that i agree with whatever it is they were saying.
the second is obviously avoiding them like the plague. i do this the most.
the third is calmly sticking to my guns while giving a response that they can't refute. (example they ask what i want on my pizza, i say spinach. they of course hate spinach, but they were the one who asked me what i wanted now didn't they?)
the fourth is goading them into a fight / disagreement. i do this the least. i do this when all other methods of handling fail. this can be a dangerous situation but usually ends up with me getting to be alone so the stress may be worth it depending on how long i get to be left alone for.

I like people who are controlling. I am bad at making decisions, they stress me out.

Want to tell me what to do, when to do it? Sure thing...

I avoid those people. My friend's boyfriend fits that category. I never talk to him if I can help it. It's too tiring to deal with them. I don't mind bossy types though; just people who always have to be right.

My dad is like this. I usually deal with it by staying in my room all the time.


I used to do this, and he'd either say something like "whatever" or "I don't wanna talk about it anymore", or "pack your bags". Last time, he actually did kick me out for a couple weeks, so I don't argue with him anymore.

Another way I used to deal with it was ignoring it and just letting the anger build up, and eventually punch a hole in the wall. Last time I punched a hole in the wall, he and his bitch wife tried calling the police, but I took the phone from them (when I went after him, he handed the phone to her, and then I took it from her). Surprisingly, they decided not to call the police, even after that.
Now, I only punch the walls in my room, and cover the holes with posters.

my grandfather writes down everything that he spends money on. before he goes anywhere he has to say what he's about to do into his dictating machine (in hebrew, when i was baptized he disrupted the whole ceremony with his gibberish). he goes mad at me when i leave the toilet open. errthing has to be in order or he goes insane. I'm the exact opposite. everything is all over the place within a radius of 25m around my body, so there are always fights needless to say. rfd

I'm a control freak, I'll admit to that. I like things to be done my way, and I do get really irritated if it doesn't happen. I don't know if that's 'spoiled' behavior but, when all of the hectic things going on in my life, I like to have control over as much as I can.

I'm this way so I prefer to be alone and not have anyone around. So that way they can all do what they want while I am out. If my husband wants to see a movie I don't want to see, he can go alone. I am not going to stop him. I let him watch his shows and play his game and I'm a control freak?

Honestly I don't think I am.

i think the difference Calico between you and a control freak is you prefer to do your own thing with or without someone else. a control freak seeks to do thier own thing and force others to comply.

my roommate is a control freak. it drives me insane because i have AS, and i need some order in shared spaces (which she rearranges all the time, and it stresses me out). she also always has to get the last word in, which is often rude or antagonizing. i don't get along well with people who try to exercise their personal agendas on me.

My father is one, my grandmother is one. My condolences to the rest of you that have to deal with these sorts of abrasive and almost unmangeable species of people.