If you or someone you know is dealing with a challenging situation and could benefit from additional support, consider talking to one of the 10,000 licensed online counselors at BetterHelp.

Gaslighting abuse is a manipulative technique that abusers use to make people feel like their feelings aren’t valid or “real.” Often people who engage in gaslighting victims are narcissistic and want to control the abused. People that gaslight often uses lies to manipulate victims. The tricky thing about gaslighting is that the abuser isn’t always cruel to the abused. They alternate being mean with giving the abuse compliments. Here’s a way that they’re able to control their victim effectively.

Abusers are often highly intelligent and always extremely manipulative. They determine the key people in the person's life and convince the abused individual that their loved ones won’t believe them if they reach out for help. An abuser who gaslights isolates their victim so that the abused feels like they can only trust the abuser.

People that gaslight others convince victims that the important people around them don’t care about them or have turned against them. The abused person believes that their loved ones aren’t on their side and is further dependent on their abuser’s validation. In reality, the abuser is lying about who isn’t on the victim’s side.

Lying is an integral part of gaslighting. An abuser makes up the reality and introduces it to their victim. They tell the abused what to believe and what not to believe. The victim then questions their thoughts and may think that they are crazy. If you think you’re in a relationship where you are a victim of gaslighting, trust your intuition. You’re not crazy, and your feelings are valid.

Mental and emotional abuse is real even if you can’t see the scars. Reach out to a mental health professional whether that’s in your local area or online, you deserve to get the help you need. You don’t have to stay in an abusive relationship. A trained therapist can help you break free from an abuser’s ties.

IMPORTANT: The information in this video is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information contained in this video is for general information purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your doctor.