Human is filled with emotions and feelings and when someone hurts your feelings, or questions your credibility, you feel shattered. Such situations may cause you to suffer from anxiety and depression even being with your loved ones.
What if you know that you are right and someone questions you in a way that you start doubting yourself, your decisions, your thoughts and your feelings. Standing that emotional abuse is not that easy. This article will guide you through how to identify gaslighting abuse and how to deal with gaslighting abuse.
What is Gaslighting Abuse?
Gaslighting is the way of emotional manipulation that leaves the victim confused and hopeless as their sanity is questioned. This malicious power technique puts the victim in a sense his/her memories, perceptions, reactions and belief are baseless. It’s a conscious act of putting someone down and making them believe that they are useless. Even if they are right at their side, their thoughts are manipulated to a serious extent.
How to Deal with it?
If you learn how to stand still on your decisions and know that you are doing right, nobody can manipulate your thoughts. You can never be a victim of gaslighting behaviour.
Recognize the Alarming Signals
Gaslighting is not an overnight activity. People try to victimize you continuously, manipulate you, deceive you or trick you down time and again. If you recognize the alarming signs, you can get cautious before getting confused or feel lost. If you find people attempting to turn others against you, when you see people repeatedly lying you, when you feel your friends or relatives are leaving you in isolation, you can understand that you are going to fall victim of gaslighting abuse.
People who want to gaslight abuse you will tell you blatant lies right on your face. And if you will try to counterfeit it, they will deny they ever said so. If they know your likes, love and what you are fond of, they will use them against you as their ammunition.
You might not be able to recognize them all of a sudden as their words never match their actions. They might use a sandwich technique and show some positive reinforcement to confuse you down. They will convince others to convince you that you are wrong. When you will try to discuss with others, they will try to make you believe that people are liar while telling others that you are crazy.
Trust Your Gut Feeling
People will try to criticize you, call you crazy, stupid or inapt, but you need to believe in your gut feeling. Have faith in yourself and your decisions and never ignore your intuitions. Even if there are ten people telling you are wrong (Except for those ones who you trust), you need to have self-analysis and self-judgement to figure out the hidden truth.
Check with Trusty People
If you ever fall into situations and have some doubt, you can check with others, maybe strangers can give you an unbiased guide if your take on something is right or wrong. Don’t be ashamed of meeting people or discussing things with strangers. Gaslighters are master manipulators but insight from strangers can protect you and help you build a belief in yourself.
Never React, Just Respond
Don’t react to any annoying question, comment or situation until you had to. Avoiding such instances will demoralize those who are trying to gaslight abuse you. Gaslighters will try to seek revenge if you will retaliate on their questions or comments. If you will let them know that you are feeling bad about what they are talking, they will double the charge and make you believe them.
Also Read: TOP MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES TO INSPIRE YOU TO GREATNESS
Seek Help from Therapists
At times, you may go blank and you fail to decide what to do or stand on your decisions. A therapist is an unbiased and educated person who can seriously think about the situation and give you some meaningful advice. He may help you get out of the situation or maybe the relationship you are stuck into. The therapist will clear your false assertions regarding mental or emotional wellness.
Summing Up
If you are intelligent enough to identify if people mean what they say, you will be able to figure out the tactics behind their false faces. Have faith in yourself and believe no one when in doubt. If you need a second opinion, trust strangers or take help with therapists to get unbiased advice. If you see someone being a victim of gaslighting abuse, support them or guide them right when the victim is all ears and ready to understand your advice.
