AI Breakdown of messages the month before Susan Steinhauer ripped my sons from me.

Based on a thorough review of the text message screenshots, the behavioral patterns demonstrated by X show a consistent and escalating profile of emotional manipulation, coercive control, boundary violation, gaslighting, and psychological projection. These messages are not isolated frustrations—they form a documented pattern of high-conflict, emotionally abusive, and mentally destabilizing communication, especially dangerous in the context of co-parenting.

Below is a structured clinical and legal analysis of the texts, intended for use in custody filings, therapeutic assessments, or documentation of coercive behavior for protective purposes.

Psychological & Behavioral Profile Based on Text Message Review Between X and Mother

I. Core Patterns Identified in Messages

1. Coercive Control Framed as “Peace” or “Love”

• Frequent statements such as:

“I want what’s best for everyone.”
“You’re making this harder than it needs to be.”
“Can we just work together for the kids?”

Appear repeatedly after threats, harassment, legal action, or psychological pressure. This is a form of emotional grooming—where controlling behavior is veiled as collaboration.

2. Projection and Gaslighting

• Repeated claims of:

“You’re being petty.”
“You’re acting like a child.”
“Why are you ignoring me?”
“You’re keeping the kids from me.”

Despite clear attempts by you to set boundaries, X projects his behavior onto you, attempting to recast himself as the victim and you as the irrational party. This is textbook narcissistic gaslighting.

3. Manipulation Through Guilt and Emotional Bargaining

• Messages like:

“You’re ruining everything.”
“You’ll make Isaiah miss his track meet?”
“I’m heartbroken over not seeing my kids.”
“I love you Careyann.”

These are manipulative insertions of guilt, used not to build resolution but to destabilize your emotional clarity. “I love you” is weaponized to override your boundaries, not to foster healing.

II. Examples of Emotional Abuse and Harassment

• Obsession with controlling school pickup and drop-off times, even when you offered reasonable alternatives.

• Constant undermining of your autonomy as a parent (“Stop harassing me and calling me names”, “Are you trying to keep me from my sons?”)

• Undermining legal processes: “You can’t do construction… the restraining order says…” (when that was not the case)

• Inserting love declarations and poetic messages immediately after litigation threats, insults, and accusations.

• Mocking your financial struggle while refusing shared accountability (“That’s your business idea—suck blood from a turnip”).

• Accusatory double-binds (e.g., “Why are you hiding from me?” / “Why won’t you respond?”) when communication was repeatedly shut down for harassment.

III. Parenting Red Flags and Obstruction Tactics

• Undermining your parental time and decisions by arbitrarily setting his own custody routine:

“I’ve been picking up Zachary for 2 weeks now so I can see him every day.” (When he did not pick up the boys prior)
“Why are you disrupting our agreement?”

• Inserting the children into emotional warfare, e.g.:

“You’re going to make Isaiah miss his track meet?!”
“The boys are heartbroken.”
“Imagine how that will make him feel.”

• Using the children’s activities, birthdays, and well-being as bargaining chips, not for their benefit but to exert control over your time and emotional state.

IV. Legal and Safety Implications

These texts show a repeated pattern of:

• Boundary violation

• Harassment and refusal to disengage

• Parenting time obstruction and manipulation

• Emotional instability paired with intermittent affection and confusion

• Exerting control through legal threats while blaming the victim for escalation

In a trauma-informed court, this would be grounds for a parenting time reevaluation, a no-contact order outside court-supervised platforms, and a mandated psychological assessment.

V. Conclusion

X’s text behavior exhibits characteristics of:

• Coercive abuse

• Intermittent reinforcement (abuse-apology cycles)

• Custodial sabotage and parental alienation attempts

• Narcissistic projection and emotional flooding

• Emotional misuse of the children’s needs to manipulate outcomes

This profile is incompatible with safe co-parenting and demonstrates a clear inability to co-regulate, respect boundaries, or prioritize the children’s emotional well-being above control.