10 Examples of What Gaslighting Sounds Like

Gaslighting appears to be a word used a lot in the media these days, but what is gaslighting?
Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse and emotional manipulation that's seen in abusive relationships. People who gaslight manipulate a person by forcing them to question their memories, their thoughts, their reality, and even their sanity. So, how do we recognize gaslighting? Here are a few examples.

Disclaimer: This video is purely for educational purposes and is not designed to imply that what is discussed in the video means that somebody is gaslighting you or that you are gaslighting somebody else. If you suspect that gaslighting may be occurring in your relationships, then seek support from a professional.

Writer: Jade Hamilton
Script Editor: Morgan Franz
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
VO: Lily Hu
Animator: JP11
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

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[sophiea]

Toxic friends and parents always say these kinds of things

[kellymccance]

Or they bring anger out in you and then blames you for having negative emotions and being angry.

[kundaidube]

Gaslighting is the most unbearable mental torture i felt in my life. I don’t wish it on anyone. The bad part is its so hard to explain how you feel to someone else and explain the abuse behind it

[glavergnetrampe]

My husband was 100% gaslighting me. I knew nothing of narcissistic behavior and took it all in. Thanks for educating the public!

[Eclipsingg]

" Why can't you take a joke? "
" When you make one, I will. "

[SynterraSteen]

I like watching these to check myself and make sure I’m not hurting anyone I care about accidentally. Thank you🌻

[christinagrant]

“I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“You’re crazy.”

[Nomaswazi]

I needed this video, I’ve been gaslit for too long, to a point where I gaslit myself. I am learning everyday to become stronger and change the way I react to people who gaslight me

[eileenlester]

Saying "I'm sorry that you feel that way" is also a legitimate attempt to deflect false accusations aimed at you.

[JagagiMind]

1: "What did I do to you?"
2: "Everyone around you isn't the problem. The problem is you"
3: "I am sorry you feel that way"
4: "I don't remember saying that"
5: "It's your anxiety that made me do the things I did"
6: "You need help"
7: "It's your fault"
8: "You're too emotional"
9: "It's not a big deal"
10: "Why are you so defensive all the time, you're attacking me"

[jotaeagles]

my favorite sentence that is not mentioned here “you only focus on the bad things, not in the good things” or “I am doing all this for you, why you only see the bad things?” when you expose something that you didn’t like about their behavior

[Mothblossom]

Yikes I’m starting to realize how many times I’ve been gaslighted

[RobTonge]

"I'm sorry that you feel that way" is a way I was taught, in therapy, to deal with manipulative people who use anger or guilt to harm you. It negates it by not giving them the reaction they thrive off of. Used properly, it's not gas lighting, it's internal boundaries for you own mental health.

[ThatGirlVal_]

Im 12, I realized my mom and ny sisters has been gaslighting me for a while. I hate it because gaslighting ur own family is so wrong, wish I had a better family.

[hillerm]

15 years ago, I was really hurt by a girl who gaslighted me, and it’s still painful and confusing to this day. We spent nearly every day together for two months and I was in love with her, but she increasingly did the push and pull on me. Over time, the pulls became romantic and sexual while the pushes became verbally abusive. After a particularly mean phone call from her in which she said I wasn’t good enough to be with her, I finally complained about her erratic behavior. In response she completely cut me off, but blamed me for all of it. She said I was overly dramatic, that her sexual advances were my fault and not a big deal, that my complaints sounded like the words of a dangerous person, and that we never really hung out much anyway. None of it was even close to being true, but I was so shocked and speechless that I could barely even collect myself.

Even today, 15 years later, I’m still mentally scarred by the experience.

[solseclipse]

My brother gaslights me, and I told my grandma, and she said gaslighting isn't a term. Then my brother called me stupid for using the term gaslighting. Bruh ;-;

[silviagarofalo]

My mom used:" i didn't say this, i didn't do that" so many times i always felt like whenever we talked i should have used a camera/microphone

[jlesteban]

After watching and reading several explanations of "what is gaslighting" I can tell that Im not a gaslighter, because I wasnt doing or saying things intentionally. Rather, I was actually insensitive and ignorant, and I sincerely apologize for the person that I've hurt because of the stupid things I say or tell them :(

[fallenivy]

I have a friend at the moment who i don’t really get on well with. She’s very opinionated, controlling, and gets mad when i talk to other people, which leads to me trying to distance myself often. There were a couple of instances recently where she yelled at me for no reason, shit talked about me, lied to me and ignored me for days before pretending nothing had happened, and another where she did something that really hurt my friend. Whenever i try to distance myself, she acts like I’m the problem, asks me if I’m ok, and shit talks me to other people. I’ve never had this with anyone else, and she made me feel like I’m the toxic one. This has helped me see it’s actually her gaslighting me into feeling this way, and I’m trying to cut her off for real this time.

[jolesliewhitten]

When you are gas lighted, plan quietly and run. End of a toxic relationship.