If you are being manipulated by a gaslighter, there’s a good chance you might not even be consciously aware of it. Gaslighters are notoriously good at what they do. Here are some questions to ask yourself.
- Have you been (or are you now) in a relationship that makes you feel squeamish, negative, and confused but you can’t quite pinpoint why?
- And when you do try to figure out why you feel that way, you end up thinking that the issue isn’t with your partner but with you?
If so, you may have been (or may now be) in an abusive relationship created and perpetuated by a behavior called gaslighting.
Effects of Gaslighting
Gaslighting is a sneaky form of abuse that involves cruel and calculated psychological warfare. In this type of abuse, the person gaslighting torments their victims to make them question their own thoughts, feelings, emotions, behaviour, and memories. Someone use gaslighting techniques against another human being continually confuses their victim by chipping away at their perception of themselves, others, and their world. The primary effect of gaslighting is that over time, victims of gaslighting lose trust and faith in themselves and are made to feel completely reliant upon their abuser, even grateful that the abuser bothers to care for them and help them through life. If you suspect you’re involved with a gaslighter reach out for help.