News Gaslighting

[hodge]

Wow, I haven't read the article yet, but will build up to it. Sounds exactly like what my mother did to me.

 

[joeylittle]

"Both brainwashing techniques and mind control methods are used to change people's beliefs and attitude so that they make the decisions and do the things the manipulator desires.

Gaslighting is usually done (I think) to keep the victim passively under control, while all the time they think they are the one that must be wrong.

Brainwashing/mind control is a very active process that is meant to put the victim completely in-line with the abuser; they will not think anything at all is wrong.

It's a subtle distinction, but I believe that's the difference.

 

[Stickler]

I didn't realize my ex-wife gaslighted me in one simple, crude, and blindingly obvious way...
She would "instruct" me on how to do everything mechanical as if I were a very slow child?
She told me she was " trying to be helpful."
I told her this was not only not helpful, it left me feeling belittled, distracted, nervous, and triggered ( as my parents would stand over me doing a task and explode at me as soon as I screwed up ).
I was then told by the ex-wife that I should not feel that way.

Since my ex-wife kept telling me that she loved me? I kept TRYING to explain to her how, in the above and in other myriad petty little ways, she managed to make me feel helpless and worthless? As surely she must not really want to hurt me? I mean, she claimed to love me. She did oftentimes have trouble understanding language, she needed it worded very specifically to get it. I thought if I worded it JUST right, she MIGHT understand? I kept repeating things like some sort of exotic rewording parrot...

When we divorced, I stopped talking to her at all. I'd been trying to explain myself for 10 years and failed.

...I now freak out even worse at anything mechanical I have to do. I suppose I need to just work through this.

 

[Ronin]

I didn't realize my ex-wife gaslighted me

I'm not sure feedback is welcome, but wanted to say not realizing it's happening is part of the purpose of gaslighting, you were having an understandable reaction and it's not a fault of perception on your side at all.

 

[Muzikluvr]

I was gaslighted as a child. I grew up being told that what I experienced couldn't have happened, didn't happen the way I experienced it, was an honest mistake, I was too sensitive, overreacting, being a drama queen, seeking attention, etc...

I came across this article about Donald Trump, and wanted to share it on this forum. I've been shocked by the legitimization of Trump's candidacy since the beginning.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry..._us_56e95d21e4b065e2e3d7ee82?section=politics

What do you think? Is Donald Trump gaslighting Americans?

 

[Teasel]

@Muzikluvr yes I think he's a gaslighter.
Awful man.
Some of his behaviour reminds of my partners. Awful

 

[LuckyDuck]

Wow. This really helped me. OMG it's delivering to read this.

LD

 

[KwanYingirl]

I found it interesting in not only describe to a t my last relationship but how a cult can form by virtue of gas lighting. Don't drink the kook aid. And a year of no contact is really great advice!!