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What is the phenomenon of gaslighting?
Gaslighting is defined as manipulating someone into thinking they’re wrong even when they’re right. A form of emotional abuse, it can be used to make the victim question their own mental wellbeing. It was used by the medical profession for decades before being named the buzzword of 2018.
Gaslighting—a type of psychological abuse aimed at making victims seem or feel “crazy,” creating a “surreal” interpersonal environment—has captured public attention. Gaslighting should be understood as rooted in social inequalities, including gender, and executed in power-laden intimate relationships.
How do you know if you are a victim of gaslighting?
You’re Not Going Crazy: 15 Signs You’re a Victim of Gaslighting. The only way you can describe how you feel is that you feel minimized. You feel crushed and smothered. You’re constantly second-guessing yourself; your feelings, your perceptions, your memories, and a small, suffocated part inside of you wonders whether you are actually going crazy.
Are you experiencing gaslighting in your relationship?
While many of us have the good sense to not join a cult, we can experience gaslighting in our personal relationships without even realizing it. Unfortunately, gaslighting is also used by abusers and narcissists, and it can be difficult realizing you may have those people in your life.
Why do Gaslighters try to make you think you’re crazy?
Trying to make a victim believe they’re crazy is an effective tool for gaslighters because it is dismissive. They know if they make you and those around you question your sanity, others won’t believe you if you try to tell them the gaslighter is abusive in any way. This is a standard technique.
What are the most devastating forms of gaslighting?
However, the most devastating forms of gaslighting may be when it’s happening in a relationship or marriage.