Can gas lighting be unintentional? Well, this article will answer that. Gas lighting can be detrimental to our mental health and it can pose a challenge in our relationships.
Here’s how gaslighting works. If you’ve ever been in a fight with a person, family, friends or your partner (this happens mostly with people we share bonds with) and they keep denying facts you know is true, it can make you feel insane.
This can be annoying when they deny facts you know they are aware of. Sometimes, they shift blames and do it so convincingly you begin to doubt your own sanity. This can happen in the workplace or in our own homes.
Gas lighters can make you feel confused, crazy, and out of touch with reality. So, what happens when this is done unintentionally? Is it possible that it could all be a misunderstanding?
It is without question that gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation. Even the victims find it hard to identify and recognize their feelings. This makes it even more difficult for them to handle.
Why Do People Gaslight?
People tend to gaslight people because of various reasons with the most common one being narcissism. When people feel a certain way about themselves, they do not want to believe they have flaws.
Another reason why people gaslight could be psychopathy. This is where they completely enjoy manipulating other people through lies and behaviors. Sadism is also another option. The list goes on and on.
This ultimately depends on the person who is gaslighting and not the victim. When a person’s entire personality is centered around being special, in most cases, they’ll do anything to protect that.
They can go as far as distorting your reality and those around to fit into theirs. They want control and power over their victim and will do anything to protect it. With a specialty in manipulation, this comes easy for them.
To The Victim
Gaslighting to a victim can be very dangerous as they can undoubtedly be spiraled into a series of psychosis. They can start doubting memory or feeling bad about a certain event.
It can make a victim feel helpless, hopeless, confused and even take a toll on their self esteem. Gaslighting might not seem much of a challenge to people who aren’t in the shoes of the victim.
These feelings can eventually lead to depression, fear, anger, anxiety, and low self esteem amongst others. If it was done unintentionally, it doesn’t eradicate the consequences.
But Can Gaslighting Be Unintentional?
Except a person has amnesia and a poor memory, it is impossible to say gas lighting can be unintentional. When an individual makes another person doubt their memory, it’s hard to say that is unintentional.
Another way to identify a gaslighter is when they keep changing stories and making yours seem like a lie. That isn’t considered an unintentional act because it requires planning and execution.
Let’s say you’re in a relationship where this is s regular occurrence, it can make you feel less than enough. And there’s not enough justification to prove your partner is doing it unintentionally.
People gaslight other people without actually knowing the term but are very much aware of their actions. Gaslighting is a form of emotional and psychological manipulation. It usually doesn’t involve anything physical, but it can cause a lot of damage.
How To Manage Self Doubt Situations?
To illustrate better how terrible gas lighting is to your mental health, it can leave you wondering if they are doing this unintentionally. It makes no sense for someone to doubt the truth even when you know it right?
A reality check with a third party is a way to help create a better picture for yourself. Another thing that can help is getting a journal. Sometimes our emotions get in the way of our thoughts and that can be detrimental.
It is completely okay to get help and support from people around you and confront your gaslighter head on. They may deny this even till their last breath. It is important to remember that narcissistic people would put their own feelings and wants first.
In a situation where these steps do not work efficiently for you or doesn’t give you a clear view, there are other options. Getting professional help can never go wrong. Sometimes you need a professional to put things into perspective.
Conclusion
Again, except there is a form of amnesia or loss of memory, gaslighting is not likely to be done unintentionally. Even when they aren’t aware of the term, always remember they are aware of their actions and that is more than enough.
Can gas lighting be unintentional? No, it can’t.
