Gaslighting…
In my experience, being gaslit takes all other abusive behaviors to a whole new level of toxicity. It’s one thing to be treated badly; it’s another to be told that it didn’t happen, doesn’t matter, or was all your fault and/or a reflection of your own psychological deficiencies or misconceptions.
Abusers play this game because it allows them to get away with things unchecked, and even to feel like good people in the meantime. And yet what they’re doing is disabling the other person’s psychological immune system. After a while, you can no longer tell the difference between safe and unsafe situations, good and bad behaviour.
Of course, that’s what the perpetrator wants so you can’t take them to task…but ultimately, it kills relationships and destroys people’s ability to lead healthy inner lives.
It’s so tragic. Even though the only reason to gaslight is to get away with other, seemingly worse things… it’s the gaslighting itself that ends up causing the greatest harm. If abuse is sneezing on someone, gaslighting is giving them AIDS.
Please share your stories in the comments below. Let us help each other overcome this terrible emotionally manipulative and toxic behavior.
Surround yourself with family, friends and loved ones. Seeking professional help will help you overcome this extreme form of emotional abuse.
Don’t allow anyone to manipulate you into believing you are going insane!
All comments are vetted before posting and personal information is never posted on this website.
