11/13/2025
Gaslighting is a form of emotional manipulation or psychological abuse where one person makes another doubt their own reality, memory, or feelings. The goal—whether intentional or not—is to gain control, avoid responsibility, or make the other person feel confused and dependent.
Here’s what it can look like in practice:
Denial of facts or events: “That never happened.”
Minimizing feelings: “You’re overreacting.”
Rewriting reality: “You’re remembering it wrong.”
Using confusion to control: saying one thing, then denying it later, leaving the other person unsure of what’s real.
Over time, gaslighting can make someone question their judgment and even their sanity. They may start apologizing for things that aren’t their fault, feel anxious about expressing themselves, or constantly second-guess what’s true.
Therapeutically, the focus is on helping the person reconnect with their sense of reality and inner trust—learning to validate their own emotions and experiences again, and setting boundaries with the gaslighter.
