What is gaslighting by a partner and are you a victim of it?
What is gaslighting by a partner?
Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation by a partner in which one person seeks to make another person doubt their own perceptions, memory, or sanity. It can be a deeply harmful and emotionally abusive behavior.
Signs of gaslighting
Here are some signs that your partner might be gaslighting you:
1. Constant Denial of Reality:
Your partner consistently denies events or situations that you clearly remember happening. They might say things like, "That never happened," or "You're imagining things.".
2. Misdirection:
They divert the focus of a conversation away from their actions and onto your reactions or behavior. This can make you doubt your feelings and perceptions, making you feel like you're the one at fault.
3. Trivializing Your Feelings:
Your partner dismisses your feelings, belittles your emotions, or acts as if your concerns are unimportant. They might say things like, "You're being too sensitive" or "You're overreacting."
4. Contradictory Statements:
They make contradictory statements or change their story frequently, leaving you confused about what really happened. This inconsistency can make you question your memory and sanity.
5. Blatant Lies:
Your partner lies about things, even when there's clear evidence to the contrary. They may manipulate the truth to make themselves look better or to undermine your credibility.
6. Withholding Information:
They withhold information from you and then accuse you of not paying attention or remembering things correctly. This tactic can make you doubt your own ability to gather and retain information accurately.
7. Projection:
They accuse you of behaviors or motives that they themselves are guilty of. By projecting their actions onto you, they deflect attention away from their own actions.
Read also: Anger vs Aggression
8. Isolation:
Gaslighters often try to isolate you from friends, family, or other sources of support. This can make you more dependent on them and less likely to question their version of events.
9. Making You Feel Crazy:
They repeatedly tell you that you're crazy, unstable, or overly emotional. This undermines your confidence and makes you question your own mental state.
10. Twisting Conversations:
They twist conversations and manipulate facts to make you doubt your understanding of what's happening. They may make you feel as though you're losing your grip on reality.
11. Minimizing Their Actions:
Your partner downplays their hurtful or harmful behavior, making you feel like you're making a big deal out of nothing.
12. Selective Memory:
They conveniently forget or "misremember" events or conversations that are inconvenient for them, further causing confusion and doubt in your mind.
It's important to recognize these signs and trust your instincts. If you suspect you're being gaslighted, consider seeking support from friends, family, or a mental health professional.
A healthy relationship is built on trust, respect, and open communication, and gaslighting goes against these principles. If your partner's behavior is causing you emotional distress, it might be worth reevaluating the relationship and considering your own well-being.
If you feel that you need support from a mental health professional, call us today!
Are you being gaslighted by your partner?
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