The Game of a Sadistic Person

Here's one of the games we end up playing with sadistic people.  It could be our partner, a sibling, a parent, a coworker, etc. 

A) They must know something that we're sensitive about. One of our triggers.

B) They give us a little poke with one of those triggers.

We are strong enough not to respond or to respond in a way that says, Hey I'm mature enough to handle this. Maybe we ignore them. Maybe we joke back. Maybe we give a little poke back.

This is NOT the response they want, so....

C) They poke harder.

And then they continue to poke harder and harder until we break down. Maybe we'll cry. Maybe we'll rush out of the room and slam the door. Maybe we'll go on a texting rant. Maybe we'll throw something.

D) They complain that we're too sensitive and that it's not fair that they have to walk on eggshells around us. They talk about how they feel abused by us.  They talk about how they're concerned for our mental health.