The Gaslighting phenomenon

Manipulation of the perception of reality

Gaslighting is a devastating psychological abuse tool designed to make the victim question his or her own memory, perception and judgment.

The abuser denies events that occurred ("that never happened," "you're imagining it") or distorts the narrative of shared events with such conviction that the victim begins to doubt her own mind.

It is comparable to living in a room of distorted mirrors where the reference of what is real constantly changes according to the whim of the manipulator.

The goal is to destabilize the individual's cognitive base so that he no longer trusts his senses or instinct, becoming completely dependent on the abuser's version of reality.

Effects on the victim's confidence and sanity.

Prolonged exposure to this tactic has corrosive effects on mental health.

The victim experiences severe cognitive exhaustion as she attempts to reconcile what she knows to be true with the lies presented to her as fact.

This leads to a state of hypervigilance and obsessive doubt, where the person feels they are "going crazy" or losing their sanity.

Trust in one's intuition breaks down, leading to a paralysis in decision making; the victim may reach the point of needing validation from the abuser even to remember simple events or make trivial choices.

This dismantling of inner security is what keeps the person trapped, as they feel they do not have the mental capacity to survive or function outside of the relationship.

Strategies for recovering one's own truth

Recovering from gaslighting involves a deliberate process of "re-literating" reality.

The therapeutic intervention focuses on validating the victim's perception and rebuilding his or her confidence in his or her own judgment.

This requires distancing oneself from the source of distortion and seeking objective external references.

The individual is encouraged to document facts, trust his or her memories and reconnect with his or her "internal compass".

Understanding that the confusion is not one's own defect, but the result of deliberate external manipulation, is the first step in breaking the spell.

The work consists of silencing the internalized voice of the abuser and re-hearing one's own voice, reaffirming th