The term ‘gaslighter’ has only been recently recognized by the general public as a way to describe what some refer to as, ’emotional vampires’. Those who gaslight have the ability to hoover around you and manipulate your emotions so that you assume everything is your fault. Cutting contact is typically the best avenue to pursue when dealing with these perpetrators, but sometimes when you have to co-parent, this is not always a possibility. If you find yourself in this situation, just try limiting contact as much as possible.
Key Takeaways:
- Gaslighters willmoften appear to be actively listening, but if asked to repeat what was said, will often respond wrongly or vaguely.
- Gaslighters use “cognitive empathy” to display outward signs of empathy without the inward feeling of it.
- Gaslighters’ narcissistic need for affirmation will never be satisfied, and in many cases it may be best to simply cut off contact.
“Stop overextending yourself to figure out what you did wrong. Even if you learned every effective communication skill that exists, the gaslighter will still never listen to you. Ever.”