How To Identify Gaslighting Behavior?

Gaslighting is known as one kind of manipulation technique in abusive relationships. It is a sneaky, often subtle form of emotional abuse in which the tormentor or abuser compels the victim to doubt their own perceptions and reality. The victim of gaslighting eventually begins to question whether they are going insane.

It’s essential to remember that gaslighting may occur in any form of relationship for instance, romantic, friendships, family ties, or business ties, and to anybody, despite gender. Gaslighting may make a person prone to a variety of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, low self-esteem, and codependency, to name a few.

Signs of gaslighting

To sustain dominance over their victim, an abuser may employ a variety of gaslighting strategies. They are all meant to make the individual who is being gaslighted doubt their reality.

These are a few of the most prevalent gaslighting indications:

i) Holding back approach

The withholding approach can be used by someone who is gaslighting. This implies they will resist listening to the individual who is being gaslighted. You can be blamed for being the one who is trying to complicate matters by the gaslighter. They will act as though they are unable to understand your point of view.

ii) Falsifying

The gaslighter will tell you explicit lies applying this gaslighting technique. Even if you know they are lying, they will go ahead and lie about the events anyway. This is intended to make you doubt your own perception of events.

iii) Defending

The gaslighter will use this strategy to argue that events did not unfold as the victim says (right), and will still include details in the narrative that never occurred. For instance, “You are wrong. You are never quite sure what you are talking about” is a common type of statement gaslighter will use while defending their narrative.

iv) Denial

The gaslighter will deny saying or doing something you know they did. They will act as though the individual who is being gaslit is lying. This gaslighting approach is meant to cast doubt on your remembrance and make you doubt yourself.

v) Distracting

Distracting is another indicator of gaslighting. This is when the gaslighter switches the subject in order to divert the target’s attention away from a certain issue. They might also distort the situation and accuse the victim of obtaining an idea from someone else, such as a friend or family member.

vi) Taking it for granted

The gaslighter applies this method to make the victim’s viewpoints and emotions appear irrelevant. The gaslighter will blame the victim for being too sensitive or exaggerating events. This may lead the victim to assume that their sentiments are baseless or unreasonable.

vii) Consistent Apologies

This is not a strategy that the gaslighter will use. Rather, you might notice yourself repeatedly apologizing to the gaslighter for your opinions or responses while being gaslighted. Since apologizing has become a habit, you might also apologize to others needlessly or offer apologies for the gaslighter’s actions to others.

Bottom line

If you notice any of these indications in a relationship, it is essential to discuss them. The first step is to consider the issue from the perspective of a stranger. This will help you determine whether the behavior is gaslighting and will allow you to judge it more accurately.

If you have experienced gaslighting it might have a significant negative impact on your mental health. You must regain your confidence again. Keep in mind that it might take some time with the help of family, friends, or a professional. But you can and will heal with time and conventional support.

Thank you for reading ❤

This article is intended for educational and awareness purposes only. Please seek professional guidance for more information.

Disclaimer: The original version of this story was published on another platform.

Link to original version: https://medium.com/know-thyself-heal-thyself/how-to-identify-gaslighting-behavior-6c67f7a21fa2

References:

Gordon, S. (2021, November 3). Ways to tell if someone is gaslighting you. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/is-someone-gaslighting-you-4147470

Morris, S. Y. (2021, November 24). How to recognize gaslighting and get help. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/gaslighting

Rodríguez, G. S. (2021, May 14). Gaslighting: How to recognize it and what to say when it happens. The Psychology Group Fort Lauderdale. https://thepsychologygroup.com/gaslighting-how-to-recognize-it-and-what-to-say-when-it-happens/

WebMD Editorial Contributors. (2020, November 24). Gaslighting: Signs to look for. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/gaslighting-signs-look-for