![]() In the long term, consistent gaslighting can cause a person to experience mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They may experience a significant drop in self-esteem or even begin to lose their sense of identity. ![]() They may come to doubt their memory, judgment, opinions, or emotions, which can isolate them socially and from loved ones. Over time, gaslighting can cause serious harm to a person who experiences it. The wife experiences severe emotional distress by the end of the film but eventually finds someone who helps her prove that her experiences were real, and she then leaves her marriage. For instance, he dims the gas lights in their home to cause them to flicker, but then denies that anything unusual is happening when she mentions it. The 1944 movie Gaslight tells the story of a husband who begins to manipulate his wife’s environment in ways that make her question her judgment and sanity. The term "gaslighting" comes from a play that was eventually turned into a film. That said, the abuser is generally unlikely to change their behavior unless they seek help from a mental health professional. Gaslighting is never okay, and it’s never the survivor’s responsibility to try and help an abuser see the error of their ways and get help. Certain personality disorders are prone to using gaslighting, including narcissistic, antisocial, and borderline. Employing this tactic can be a sign that they have mental health issues of their own. Stonewalling: Refusing to listen or engage with you in conversation.īlocking: Changing the subject when you try to clarify a situation or express your feelings.ĭiverting: Questioning the validity of your thoughts.įorgetting: Pretending to forget things that happened.ĭenying: Telling you that something you remember never actually happened.įaking compassion: Telling you that the harmful thing they’re doing is for your own good.Ībusers often use gaslighting to manipulate and exert control over the person they’re abusing. Withholding: Keeping money or affection from you. Trivializing: Making you feel like your thoughts and feelings don't matter or that you’re just being overly sensitive. That said, some of the most common gaslighting techniques include:Ĭountering: Telling you that you misremember something to exert control and make you doubt yourself. Gaslighting may take different forms and often happens in stages. It’s a common technique used by abusive partners, people with narcissism, and those who try to control groups of people, such as cult leaders. While it’s often referred to in romantic relationships, gaslighting can also occur in platonic, familial, or work relationships. It can be a severe form of emotional abuse that can result in survivors losing their sense of self-worth or identity. The American Psychological Association (APA) defines gaslighting as the act of manipulating another person into doubting their perceptions, experiences, or understanding of events.
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