And what to do to recognize it and protect yourself

Gaslighting is nothing new, however it’s become de rigueur today. Simply, it’s a form of psychological manipulation that seeks to make individuals doubt their perception, memory, and sanity. In your relationships, gaslighting can be insidious and harmful.  It erodes a person’s confidence and sense of self.

The gaslighter a variety of tactics to achieve their goal of undermining the victim’s confidence. These tactics often include denial, trivialization, and distortion of facts. Identifying gaslighting behavior is crucial for you to protect yourself and maintain your mental well-being.

Here’s some tactics:

Denial of Reality: Gaslighters frequently deny events or conversations that have taken place.

Trivializing Concerns: Gaslighters downplay the feelings and concerns of their victims, making them feel as though their emotions are irrational or unwarranted.

Projection of Blame: Gaslighters often shift blame onto the victim, making them feel responsible for the issues at hand.

Withholding Information: Gaslighters may selectively withhold information to create confusion and manipulate the narrative.

Creating Doubt: Gaslighters aim to create doubt in the victim’s mind, causing them to question their own perceptions and beliefs.

Now that you can recognize some of the tactics used by a gaslighter, you can begin to protect yourself. Yes, you can avoid them. However sometimes you may need to cross paths with someone like this. You can use some of the following techniques to disconnect and protect yourself from their negative influence.

Trust Your Instincts: Develop confidence in your own instincts and feelings. If something feels off, trust your intuition.

Maintain Documentation: Keep records of events, conversations, and any discrepancies. This documentation can serve as a tangible reference point, helping you validate your experiences when faced with denial or distortion.

Seek External Validation: Share your experiences with trusted friends, family, or mental health professionals. Having external perspectives can provide validation and support, counteracting the isolation tactics employed by gaslighters.

Set Boundaries: Establish and assert your boundaries. Clearly communicate what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

Educate Yourself: Learn about gaslighting and manipulation tactics. Awareness is a powerful tool in protecting yourself.

Bottom line, trust yourself. Trust your intuition. Recognizing gaslighting, and its tactics can be a huge protective mechanism by itself. Setting boundaries, educating yourself, cultivating a support system, and practicing self-care are key strategies for protecting yourself from the detrimental effects of gaslighting. Building resilience and maintaining a strong sense of self are essential components of safeguarding your mental and emotional health in interpersonal relationships. Remember, gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse.  You have the right to protect yourself.

If you need help on deeper emotional levels to combat gaslighting, set up a session with Joyce.

Joyce M. Jackson is a psychic medium, life coach, hypnotherapist, past life regression expert, and shamanic practitioner. You can find out more about her at The Sane Psychic and by Clicking Here.