The Truth About Gaslighting
What Is Gaslighting, How To Spot It, And What To Do
Gaslighting is a form of manipulation that involves denying facts, making false statements, and giving just enough truth mixed in to keep victims doubting themselves. Gaslighters can question your sanity and make you doubt your perception of the world around you by playing into your fears and taking advantage of your trust in them. It’s an incredibly frightening experience that can leave you feeling isolated and helpless if you don’t know what’s happening. Here are some tips on how to spot the signs of gaslighting, so it doesn’t destroy your self-confidence:
- Recognize the signs of gaslighting in your relationship
Gaslighters are frequently skilled at playing on their victims’ emotions to make them feel reliant on them. You may be in a toxic relationship if you feel on edge all the time with that person and that they are making you doubt yourself and your understanding of reality, never expresses regret when they do anything wrong, and regularly disparages your abilities. Similarly, if someone constantly portrays themselves as right and you as wrong, regardless of the situation, you may be dealing with a gaslighter. Signs of gaslighting include someone trying to separate you from those who care about you and manipulate you.
- Remember that you are not to blame
The most crucial thing to remember concerning gaslighting is that you are not to blame. Gaslighters frequently attempt to persuade their victims that the gaslighting is their fault, but this is untrue. People who are generous and trusting are often the targets of gaslighters because they are more likely to receive their forgiveness when they make a mistake. Gaslighters will try to draw your attention to how upset they are and how unfair you are. But it’s pretty acceptable for you to be offended by their actions, and you shouldn’t feel obligated to excuse them for what they’re doing to you.
- Confide in a trusted friend or family member
Although gaslighting can make you feel incredibly alone, you’re not. Many individuals have fallen prey to gaslighting, and many more have left gaslighting relationships. If you believe that you are being misled, discuss it with someone. Make sure you have someone to talk to, whether it’s a close friend or relative, a therapist, or even someone from an online support group. Tell someone what’s going on so they can assist you to break the loop of toxic behavior, and you won’t feel as helpless about what’s happening.
- Don’t engage, and take care of yourself
When confronted with blatant gaslighting, your best action is to avoid interacting with the offender. Arguments are great for gaslighters because they know they can manipulate victims who become defensive and engage in conflict. Instead, leave the conversation and remember that the gaslighter is attempting to control you and undermine your self-esteem. Take care of yourself and your mental health, and take at least 10 minutes a day to meditate or listen to a CBT audio session in the Sensera app.
Being gaslighted may be a very frightening experience, and it can be challenging to know how to escape such a circumstance. But you can emerge from the circumstance stronger than ever by identifying the warning signs of gaslighting in your relationship and taking care of yourself. Even while what a gaslighter does has the potential to be highly damaging, it lacks the ability to fundamentally alter who you are.
