Gaslighting
• Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse where a person makes you doubt yourself. It’s done to gain power over you and avoid responsibility of the abuse that is being inflicted. Gaslighting is incredibly harmful because it makes you question your own sanity, can lead to anxiety, depression and can even trigger nervous breakdowns.
- So far, the most common incidents we’re hearing about for a while and since forever, was about the sexual assault.
- Sexual assault isn’t always by forcing someone into any sexual activity without their consent or cause you’re stronger than the other person. You can just gaslight this person, how? By sugarcoating them and persuading them to do that sexual activity and saying it’s totally fine to do so and that all people are doing this. So, you both start in that sexual activity, your partner is feeling guilty and uncomfortable, but you find that cool and sexy. You finish and your partner complains that he/she was not comfortable. You then get nervous and say that you didn’t force him/her and they do not have any excuse to complain about this cause that was done with their full consent.
- You may gaslight someone without even noticing that you’re doing something harmful to that person.
• “HOW TO KNOW A GASLIGHTER?”
1. They tell blatant lies.
2. They deny they ever said something.
3. “the frog in the frying pan” analogy : is that the heat is turned up slowly so the frog never realizes what’s happening to it.
4. Their actions do not match their words.
5. They tell you that you do not have value, but then they’re praising you for something you’ve done, so you think that may be they aren’t that bad, when they actually are.
6. Their goal is to make you constantly question yourself and confuse you.
7. They try to align people against you, so you isolate yourself, and that’s exactly what they want, to give them more control.
8. They tell you everyone else is a liar.
• So here are a few signs to help you know if you’re or someone you know is experiencing emotional abuse :-
1. You find yourself apologizing a lot.
2. You always making excuses.
3. You think there’s something wrong with you.
4. You trust the judgement of others over yours.
5. You think something might be off.
• “HOW TO ACT AGAINST GASLIGHTING?”
1. Recognize what drives the behavior.
2. React to their claims the right way.
3. Don't second-guess yourself.
4. Seek help if the gaslighting continues.
5. Get out—and don't look back.
Writer: Maryam Sowalim
Editor : Nagla Aly Khalifa
Comentários