• Introduction:

 Let’s say you and your friend decide to meet at 12pm.  When you arrive at the decided-on location, you discover your friend is an hour late.  All they reply when you bring it up is, “We never agreed on 12 PM.”  Even while you argue that they are wrong, their constant denial causes you to doubt your own beliefs.  Because your friend appears so certain that you are lying, you begin to question your recall and ask yourself, “Maybe I am wrong?”- this is what gaslighting does.

Or consider the scenario when you complain that your brother is continuously making mistakes or doing things incorrectly, only to be told again that you are overreacting.

This is a type of psychological deception known as gaslighting, which causes you to doubt reality.

•  What is Gaslighting?

Gaslighting is a manipulative tactic used by a person or entity to gain power by making a victim question their reality (Sarkis, 2017). The term comes from the 1938 play Gas Light, where a husband manipulates his wife into believing she is insane by manipulating her perception, relationships, and physical environment.

• Signs of Gaslighting:

✅ Facts being denied

✅ Reality being twisted

✅ Reducing Your Emotions: For example, “You are too sensitive.”

✅ Confusion-Creating

How to Protect Yourself from Gaslighting?

 🛑 Have Faith in Your Gut

🙅 Set Boundaries

💬 Seek Support

🚪 Think about Walking Away

• In conclusion

A harmful kind of emotional abuse that can harm a person’s mental health for a long time is gaslighting.  It’s critical to recognize the warning symptoms and take preventative action.  It’s time to reassess and get help if you’ve ever felt misled, perplexed, or self-conscious in a relationship.

Have you ever experienced gaslighting? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below. If you found this article helpful, don’t forget to share it with others who might need this information.

• References:
• Sarkis, Stephanie. 2017. 11 Warning Signs of Gaslighting. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201701/11-warning-signs-gaslighting.
• Ogun, Victor. [A person whispering something in someone’s ear]. Pinterest. Available at: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/36380709483229759/