gaslighting

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which one person systematically causes another to doubt their own perceptions, memories, and sanity. Common gaslighting tactics include denying events the target clearly remembers, reframing the target's reactions as "crazy" or "too sensitive," rewriting shared history, and insisting the target's feelings are wrong.

Over time, gaslighting erodes a person's trust in their own reality and can produce chronic self-doubt, confusion, anxiety, and a loss of identity. It is a common pattern in narcissistic, abusive, and high-control relationships—romantic, familial, and professional. Recovery involves reconnecting with one's own felt sense, validating one's perceptions, and often stepping away from the gaslighter's influence.