Indicators of Gaslighting: How to Identify When You Are Being Deceived
You’re being irrational; that never happened. Stop being so sensitive. I have never encountered this issue with anyone but you. It was always your idea, not mine! Seriously, you’re just imagining things. Everyone else concurs, apart from you. You’re simply fabricating stories.
These are merely a few examples of what you might hear if someone is gaslighting you. It typically arises when you confront them about their negative behavior, only to have your truth distorted in return…in ways that can genuinely disorient you!
Gaslighting is a type of psychological abuse that frequently appears in toxic romantic relationships, but it can also emerge in interactions with friends, colleagues, bosses, family members, and even neighbors and landlords.
At its essence, gaslighting manipulates your sense of reality, leaving you bewildered, anxious, and questioning your own perceptions and feelings. Sometimes it is apparent and overt. Other times, it occurs so subtly that you might not even recognize you’re being influenced.
The phrase “gaslighting” originates from the 1938 stage play Gas Light, which was adapted into the 1944 film of the same name.
In the narrative, a husband deceives his affluent wife into believing she is losing her mind by making minor alterations to their environment, such as dimming the gas lights, and then denying any changes. His objective is to instill doubt in her sanity, allowing him to have her committed to a psychiatric facility and gain access to her inheritance.
As a psychic reader, I frequently meet clients grappling with perplexing or painful relational dynamics. Their experiences often unambiguously indicate the presence of gaslighting.
I have witnessed numerous instances of this manipulation in my readings, and it is much more prevalent and detrimental than people generally realize. It also emphasizes the necessity of identifying when this is happening to you, whether in your personal life, at work, or online. The digital era facilitates manipulative behaviors manifesting in subtle, widespread manners.
Here are some fundamental signs that may suggest you are experiencing gaslighting:
Self-Doubt
You begin to second-guess everything about yourself. The gaslighter insists you’re misremembering incidents, exaggerating, or even outright fabricating. They may assert that others share their perspective, using false consensus to erode your credibility. They might intentionally set you up to seem forgetful, overly emotional, or unstable in front of others. Privately, they may chastise you until you break down and then publicly accuse you of overreacting. Gradually, you start to consider that perhaps you are at fault.
Confusion
You find yourself questioning your recollection or interpretation of discussions. You start to feel as if you might be unraveling. Even basic decisions become overwhelming without reassurance. Doubt about yourself intensifies like never before. You put in extra effort to satisfy, tiptoeing around them, eager to avoid provoking them. Yet, the target seems to perpetually shift.
Uncertainty
You feel more anxious, insecure, and dependent than you did previously. You struggle to make even straightforward decisions. You sense a lack of trust in your own judgment. Although deep down you might realize you’re being manipulated, you can’t shake the feeling that perhaps you’re only imagining this.
Rationalization
You justify their behavior to yourself. You convince yourself they didn’t mean harm or are under stress. You might even lie to others to shield their reputation. You start to normalize what previously seemed intolerable.
Dysphoria
You begin to dream about escaping. A different lifestyle. Another version of yourself. Anything to break away from the mental haze and emotional suffering. You feel burdened, as if your spirit is gradually being crushed.
Depression
You experience unhappiness, anxiety, and a disconnection from your true self. You reminisce about a time when you felt joy and clarity, but that seems distant now. Your internal gauge has been skewed. That persistent tightness in your chest or abdomen? It’s your body reacting to prolonged stress and emotional turmoil.
Isolation & Dependency
You increasingly depend on their version of reality instead of your own. They have distanced you from friends and family, consistently criticize your support network, or generate drama to create a division between you and others. Over time, they have become your only emotional anchor.
Shame
You start to absorb the notion that you are too sensitive or emotional. Gaslighters frequently apologize while embedding blame, uttering phrases like, “I’m sorry you’re so easily offended,” or “I’m sorry that the truth hurts you.” These comments may sound like apologies but are meant to make you feel defective.
Invalidation
You feel diminished, unimportant, with your needs and opinions minimized. Your emotions are persistently dismissed. You’re told you’re overreacting or overly dramatic. When you express hurt, they imply you’re too delicate to absorb the truth. Instead of providing comfort, they respond with haughty indifference or mocking remarks.
Paranoia
The unending deceit leaves you wondering if anything you’re told is genuine. You may begin to distrust others too, withdrawing from loved ones out of fear or embarrassment. You stop disclosing details about your life because explaining your circumstances feels draining, or you fear others won’t believe you.
Fear
Gaslighters frequently depend on fear to enforce control. They may raise their voices, threaten to abandon you, withhold affection, or induce guilt to ensure compliance. You may continually find yourself apologizing, even when you’ve done nothing wrong.
Psychosis
You feel as if you are losing touch with reality. The gaslighter may deny uttering things you distinctly remember or change their preferences suddenly, punishing you for not keeping pace. One day they profess a love for strawberries. The next, they assert they despise them and berate you for being inconsiderate for offering them. You’re scolded for cooking wheat spaghetti despite their allergy, then reprimanded for preparing rice pasta because they “only eat wheat.” Your reality is perpetually being rewritten.
If any of this resonates, know that you are not isolated, nor are you merely imagining it. A key part of the gaslighter’s manipulation is to convince you that escape is impossible. That you won’t find another partner. That you can’t secure a different job. That you are too weak to thrive independently.
All of that is false. You are resilient. You possess capabilities. And you deserve love, clarity, and peace.
Begin by confiding in someone you trust. Seek support, whether it’s from a friend, therapist, psychic, or online community. Someone who can assist you in remembering your true self. Someone who will affirm that you are not losing your mind and that your experiences are valid.
The person who gaslights you does so not out of strength, but due to profound insecurity and self-hatred. Those who are truly confident uplift others. They celebrate your achievements and offer solace in your struggles. They do not belittle, manipulate, or disorient.
Gaslighting is not love. It is control disguising itself as concern. It is cruelty masquerading as honesty. Life is too precious to be experienced through someone else’s warped lens. You deserve to be acknowledged, heard, and secure. You deserve more.
Satya resides in Northern California and is a natural Clairvoyant, Empath, Conduit, teacher, author, animal lover, healer, Reiki Master, and an advanced yoga instructor. She has provided invaluable psychic support to Hollywood celebrities, athletes, and everyone in between. A multi-faceted Intuitive, with diverse unique gifts to offer, she can offer you a portal to the past and a path to a more joyful future. Through her long-distance energy work, she provides healing for both people and animals! She readily identifies karmic ties from past lives that directly influence current circumstances, assisting clients in overcoming them swiftly. For precise solutions to virtually any pressing issue, you can connect with Satya at PsychicAccess.com. |