Gaslighting???? What is it and how to deal with it, Mental health series - 1 by Shweta Tripathi

Gaslighting –

Often, we encounter people all around us - be it someone from our family, or in a relationship, or in our friends, anywhere or everywhere we can find these people called -  "gaslighters".

Yes! Gaslighters and the technique they use is called gas lighting.

I know many of you must be familiar with this term but the ones who don’t know about this term I am here to explain it to you in this first blog of mine in the Mental health series.

Let us know what is gaslighting and then I will tell you why is it important to discuss about this.

Gaslighting is to manipulate someone by psychological means in a way that they start doubting themselves.

Remember the key factor is that it is done with complete knowledge and not unintentionally .It can be done on a single person or on a group.

Why is it done ??? you may ask –

The answer is simple to get the gaslighters whatever they want (RESULT).

It is done in a way that the gaslighters seeks power and control over the other person, by distorting reality, creating false ideas and thoughts and let them question their own judgement and intuition.

So, the next question arises here is how can someone know that they are been gaslighted-

Here they refers to the GASLIGHTERS

1.      They will deny or lie about something and refuse to admit the lie they might have told you even if you show them the proof.

2.      They will refuse to remember their wrong doings and will say that you are remembering it wrong.

3.      They will play the victim card; they will do the wrong to you and act as the victim by blaming it all on you.

4.      They don’t like CONFRONTATION; they simply hate it.

5.      Poor listener, they won’t listen to whatever you want to say they will just talk and then wont listen to your point of view and eventually make you the bad person with their poor listening skills.

6.      ALL blame on YOU, for everything bad that they do they won’t understand it and ultimately blame it on YOU.

7.      NO to Criticisms – They won’t accept any sort of criticism.

8.      They will twist the story to minimise their abusive behaviour.

9.      Minimise their harmful behaviour and rubbish talk by saying something like- why are you getting offended? It was just a joke? Or YOU are too sensitive?

In short, they will blame their behaviour all on you and manipulate you in a way knowing fully well that what they are doing is insane but they will still do it.

These are therefore called gaslighters.

How they hamper your mental health-

They will make you feel insecure, obviously demotivate you, make you feel that all the wrong that is happening is your fault, they justify their bad behaviour by gaslighting you. they will call you crazy and after all you will doubt on yourself and question your potential thereby causing ANXIETY, DEPRESSION.

What to do then and how to deal with the GASLIGHTERS???? 

There is no definite answer to it just remember this is a manipulation, you need to understand that - THEY WILL NEVER ACCEPT THEIR FAULT AND WILL NEVER APOLOGIZE OR ADMIT WRONG DOING.

All you can do it to not to lose your control because sometimes you cannot avoid them, they can be anywhere, all you can do is-

DON’T get manipulated, and don’t lose the FAITH in yourself.

I know it is difficult but this is the only way.

I will come with more such blogs, till then be happy, stay fit and keep check on your mental health.

Also comment down what other topics you want me to discuss with you in comment section.

And don’t forget to share this piece of information with the one in need.

 

Thank you.

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