Wait, What? The Signs of Chronic Gaslighting
Gaslighting- a term that has grown increasingly in popularity, refers to the manipulation of someone through psychological methods. Gaslighting makes an individual question their sanity, experiences, feelings, and reasoning powers.
As you can imagine, this form of manipulation causes damage to an individual and, when applied consistently, has substantial implications for a person’s sense of self. Gaslighting can be especially harmful when it comes from people we look up to or admire. Chronic gaslighting from partners, family members, friends, peers, or employers, increases the chance of the following difficulties:
Trust issues with yourself and others
Lower confidence and self-worth
Believing that your feelings aren’t valid or reasonable
Discrediting your experiences
Apologizing excessively and taking accountability for things you didn’t do
Overly pleasing others
Questioning if people are being authentic
Experiencing an extreme level of shame, guilt, and anxiety
Due to the significant impairment gaslighting and chronic gaslighting can cause, it is essential to receive professional help to challenge and replace the inaccurate schemas or thought patterns that have been conditioned. At Intuitive Counseling in Highlands Ranch, we help clients first detect inaccurate statements and beliefs that interfere with their growth and wellness. Clients then find evidence that supports and denies the schemas, ultimately creating helpful and more congruent ones.
Contact us at 720-689-6166 or laurenblanchard@intuitivecounselingco.com to get started today!!
