Attention! You may be experiencing gaslighting… It is common in romantic relationships.

The manipulative deception or deception of the other person for the sake of one’s own interests is defined as “gaslighting behavior”. Stating that people who practice gaslighting are aware of their harmful behaviors, experts state that they aim to increase their authority and control by ignoring the feelings and priorities of the people in front of them and making them worthless. Psychiatrist Dr. Erman Şentürk, “Gaslighting cannot be determined by instant events and is often encountered in romantic relationships, business life and family relationships. The victim feels pathological attachment to the perpetrator, and in order to cope, a distance must first be put in between,” he said.

Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Center Psychiatrist Dr. Erman Şentürk made important statements about gaslighting behavior encountered in romantic relationships, business life and family relationships and shared his recommendations.

They become aware of harmful behaviors

Stating that the person’s manipulative deception or deception of the other person for the sake of his own interests is defined as gaslighting behavior, NP Feneryolu Medical Center Psychiatry Specialist Dr. Erman Şentürk said, “Most of the people who practice gaslighting are aware of their behavior that harms the other party. The main purpose here is to create an imbalance in the thought processes of the other person, to make them think that they have a problem or a network of problems, and thus to have control over their life. The ultimate goal is not that he is actually right or right, but that the victim believes in his rightness or that he is right and that he submits.”

They try to increase authority with gaslighting

Psychiatrist Dr. Erman Şentürk pointed out that people who practice gaslighting are generally individuals with narcissistic personality traits and continued his words as follows:

These people are intolerant of criticism and easily judge others, constantly need to be admired, deny their weaknesses or mistakes, devalue those who threaten their self-esteem, ignore and devalue others’ thoughts, feelings and priorities, often humiliate the other person, make them feel inferior, and have no remorse. They are individuals who have unpredictable mood swings, tend to dramatize events, and have exaggerated self-esteem. However, there are some differences between gaslighting and narcissism. While narcissists thrive on respect, admiration, and love from others, gaslighters want others to submit to them. While the narcissistic individual engages in such behaviors to increase their fragile self-worth, gaslighters aim to increase their authority and control.”

The victim feels pathological attachment

Stating that gaslighting causes the victim to question his feelings, behaviors and who he is, to feel the feelings of helplessness and worthlessness intensely, to lose his sense of self and self-worth, Dr. Erman Şentürk said, “For all these reasons, the person exposed to gaslighting feels a pathological attachment to the person who manipulates them. The emotional manipulations he is exposed to cause him to doubt himself and question his mental health. These people, who begin to question their own mental health, emotions, intelligence and values, may feel quite pessimistic, unhappy, inadequate, guilty or flawed over time. Gaslighting can be a harbinger of psychiatric diseases such as anxiety disorder or depression, and depending on its severity and duration of exposure, it can lead the person to suicide.

Often encountered in romantic relationships

Noting that psychological manipulations can occur in different ways and situations, Psychiatrist Dr. Erman Şentürk continued his words as follows:

“Gaslighting is often encountered in romantic relationships, business life and family relationships. In order to cope with gaslighting, first of all, the situation to be exposed needs to be noticed. Lying, denying the past statements or the current situation, not accepting the mistake he made, refusing to listen to the other person, making him feel worthless, blaming the other person by expressing that what he said is not understood, distorting the debated issue and taking it in his own direction, belittlement and trivialization of the feelings and thoughts of the other person. , humiliating, constantly blaming the other person, telling or implying that the other person is mentally ill are some examples of psychological manipulation.”

Cannot be determined by instantaneous events

Noting that Gaslighting cannot be determined by instantaneous events, Psychiatrist Dr. Erman Şentürk said, “Victims make sense of exactly what happened, what they experienced, of which they were partially aware or not aware at all for a while.

They are exposed to this manipulation, which they cannot do. In order to cope with this process, it is of great importance that they first know and be aware of the above-mentioned gaslighting methods. If it is difficult to keep a distance from the person or people who practice gaslighting in order to avoid further exposure to gaslighting, or if it is thought that there is psychological harm after these manipulations, it would be appropriate to start the therapy process by talking to a mental health specialist.