Gaslighting is a term that’s been thrown around a few times, but what does it look and feel like in reality?

The first thing you should know is that it is a serious form of mental and emotional abuse that makes you doubt your reality and your sanity.

In other words, gaslighters use manipulation and control tactics to distort your perceptions, feelings, and self-worth.

Gaslighting can happen in any type of relationship — from romantic relationships to relationships between family members, friends, and coworkers.

So, how do you know if this type of abuse is really happening to you? In this article, we’ll talk about the most important warning signs you should look out for and what you can do if you have a fire.

Let’s get started.

1) They lie constantly and blatantly
One of the scariest things about gaslighters is that they always deny the truth, no matter what.

And they do it with such conviction that it comes to a point where you start questioning yourself and you can’t figure out what’s true anymore.

Even if you saw their behavior or heard what they said, they will lie right to your face and pretend like nothing ever happened.

For example, you’re sure they said “yes” to doing you a favor, and they’ll tell you they never said yes to it.

It can get worse: They’ll get upset, deflect the conversation, or accuse you of making things up.

2) They play the blame game
Gas workers are never held accountable for their actions.

Think about this for a minute: Would a person….

• Do you always find a way to shift blame anytime you express your feelings or say something that doesn’t sit well with you?
• Do I blame you for being “too sensitive or irrational” or for not being able to “take a joke?”
• Do you feel guilty in every disagreement or argument?
• Do you feel guilty about something you didn’t say or do?
• If you answered yes to any of this, it’s a sign of gaslighting. It is supposed to make you doubt your behavior or reaction and evade any responsibility for the pain you have caused.

3) They look down on you
If you constantly find yourself on the receiving end of someone’s unfounded criticism, this is a red flag that reveals gaslighting behavior.

Gaslighters use the power of words to control, degrade and harm you.

These rude comments and insults attack your character and make you feel small and helpless.

They will take things to a very personal level to keep you exposed and vulnerable. This is how they take the upper hand and manipulate your perception of reality.

This brings me to my next point….

4) They make you question your self-worth
Do you always doubt yourself and feel like you’re not good enough? Do you always wonder if you’re being too unreasonable? Do you feel like you can’t trust your thoughts or instincts?

Here’s the deal: To gain control and power, a gaslighter will always bring you down and make you feel insecure.

No matter what you say or do, they will always determine how ineffective you are and how wrong you are.

They will use any perceived flaw, weakness, or insecurity to keep you feeling as unworthy and unbalanced as possible.

5) They underestimate your feelings
You’re just being paranoid.

“You’re overreacting.”

These are just some of the phrases gas workers use to convince you that you are wrong and that you are making a lot of money out of nothing.

They will downplay, dismiss, and invalidate your feelings and experiences to further undermine your reality.

It comes to a point where you start questioning your feelings and even feel foolish for trying to stand up for yourself.

This is the case with gaslighters, they thrive on doubt and insecurity.

When you cannot trust your perceptions and feelings and believe what the firebrand says, then you are more likely to take abuse and fail to hold them accountable for their behavior.

6) They make you feel like you’re crazy
One of the gaslighter’s most manipulative and dismissive tools is to make you think you’re losing your mind.

They will tell you that you misremember, imagine things, or are paranoid when you see signs of dishonesty or inconsistency.

It’s how they divert attention from their bad deeds. They may also tell you to seek help for your mental health as a way to trick you into thinking you are crazy.

You see, gaslighting lies and distortions of reality make you legitimately question your sanity. The truth is, it’s another way of saying, “These problems are your fault, not mine.”

7) They isolate you
And it gets worse: The gaslighter will create distance between you and your loved ones and discredit you in front of others by spreading rumors that you are unstable.

Never underestimate the ability of a gas driver to always give his best and earn the trust of your family and friends. They will use this connection to easily distort reality and turn your loved ones against you.

The goal is to separate you from the people who can provide the support you need to prove the gaslighter wrong.

By now, you should know that the gaslighter is a professional liar. They will make you believe that you have no one else to turn to or trust – except them. Isolation gives them more control over you.

8) They refuse to listen
When you confront this person, do you often feel like you say the same thing over and over again and still no one hears you?

Does this person often veer off topic and bring up something else to make you look like the guilty party is the victim?

These are all signs of gaslighting. Gas workers will never acknowledge your point of view. They will insist that you are completely wrong all the time.

9) They are inconsistent
One of the hallmarks of gaslighting behavior is that their actions do not match their words.

They can offer you the moon and the stars, but they won’t keep even the smallest promises. When you try to remind them of anything they promised, they will completely deny it.

Additionally, if you find that someone’s behavior constantly confuses you, that’s a red flag.

Do they criticize and hurt you one minute and then shower you with kind words the next?

This shift from blame to praise is another trick to keep you under their control and make you think they’re not so bad after all.

How to deal with gases

Now that you know what to look for, the next question is: What should you do if you realize someone is gaslighting you?

trust yourself

Gaslighting has a way of distracting us from our thoughts and feelings. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to your gut and give yourself permission to feel what you feel.

Don’t ignore those emotional signals that tell you something is wrong. Recognizing and naming tactics such as denial, invalidation, and blaming is the first step toward regaining your sense of reality.