Discovered that one of the most important ways to not be controlled by others is to not give in to being manipulated by pity. People can use the fact that they don’t love themselves, that they want a friend, as a means to control others into remaining their friends, or doing things the other person would rather not do.
“What?? I knew it! You DO hate me!! T_T”
No, it’s just that you want to do something else, or that you dont like the same things as the other person, and want to go elsewhere.
On the other end – learn to love yourself, and you won’t have the compulsion to control.