Gaslighting is the psychological manipulation of a person to make them doubt their own sanity or ability to reason. There is always a victim in a relationship with a gaslighter. In this instance, suffering emotional harm as a result of someone else’s deeds or words means that you are a victim. You might think you’re going mad if a friend, significant other, or family member is gaslighting you. This blog post will assist you in recognizing three warning signs that a person is trying to gaslight you.
First red flag: They doubt your reality
A gaslighter will trick you into believing that something you remember regarding a circumstance or conversation never took place. They will accomplish this by continually contesting what you already know to be true until you start to question your memory of the events. There are numerous methods one may accomplish this, but two come to mind.
Triangulation is one. Triangulation occurs when a gaslighter gives you information to pass along to another person. The gaslighter then denies ever stating it when you tell them what you told them.
By denial is the second. Any wrongdoing or offensive behavior will be refuted. Consider the scenario when you are dating someone and you noticed a notification from a dating app flash up on their phone while they were in the restroom. A gaslighter would reject what you saw and try to convince you that it was false or that it never existed.
Red Flag No. 2: Negating Your Reputation in Public
The practice of reputation dragging is one more tactic that gaslighters frequently employ. They’ll call you out or share embarrassing tales about you in front of other people to do this. A gaslighter might do this to you for a few different reasons, but the main one is to keep you away from other people. They increase their influence on you and their authority by doing this.
THEY MINIMIZE YOUR FEELINGS (RED FLAG #3)
The act of disregarding your feelings is a frequent gaslighter strategy. They’ll make an effort to make you feel that your feelings are unacceptable, unimportant, or misguided. You will begin to feel guilty and place the blame on yourself if you do this.
If your emotions are being downplayed, you might begin to realize:
constantly apologizing
avoiding family and friends
Are you unsure if you are too sensitive to be yourself?
perpetually uncertain and overthinking
balancing on thin ice
NEXT ACTION
We can assist you if, after reading this blog, you recognize that you have been the victim of gaslighting. We have qualified therapists at New Vision Counseling and Consulting who can accompany you while you deal with the distressing effects of gaslighting. You CAN leave the abusive environment and begin to feel more like yourself. However, the majority of people require assistance in establishing boundaries, comprehending reality, and letting go of control. The best course of action is to call us at (405) 921-7776 to find out more about how we can assist you if this is something you’re seeking and you’re prepared to be respected and welcomed.