Gaslighting

Gaslighting is a form of deep mental abuse. It is a calculated manipulation strategy. One person tries to make another feel insane, with the goal of total psychological control.

The name comes from the movie Gaslight. The main character messes with his spouse's environment. He convinces her she is imagining things. He makes her doubt her own eyes.

This is a severe power dynamic in psychology. The abuser consistently denies facts, even rewriting shared memories. They call the victim mentally unwell. They use phrases such as "You made that up." or "I never said that" when they did.

This repeated denial causes severe harm. Victims feel confused and deeply anxious. They stop trusting their own perceptions. Treatment involves intense validation work. The focus is on regaining self-trust. It stops the cycle of emotional dependency and identifying this toxic pattern is vital for healing.