From the outside, my life looked like a dream, but behind the picture-perfect image was a reality I didn’t see. My husband’s covert manipulation, lies, and deception kept me trapped in a cycle of confusion and pain.

If you try to be compliant and agreeable, you may have a hard time knowing how to be assertive. Setting boundaries and having them respected can be a challenge. But here are eight ways a compliant spouse can calmly resist being controlled.