The Voice in Your Head Might Be Distorting Your Reality

The science behind self-gaslighting and how it can hamper your perception of pain.

Photo by Isaiah Rustad on Unsplash

Gaslighting is when a person denies the reality of another person.

According to Medical News Today, it is a form of psychological abuse where a person makes someone question their sanity, perception of reality, or memories. People experiencing gaslighting often feel confused, anxious, and unable to trust themselves

Psychologist Dr. Nicole LePera (on Instagram as the.holistic.psychologist) recently put up a post about how gaslighting can affect the person doing it. By invalidating the realities of others, they often end up invalidating their own identity. Gaslighting is an extreme measure people take up when they are desperately trying to avoid their own uncomfortable emotions.

The post got me thinking: how often do we end up gaslighting ourselves because we are too ashamed or embarrassed to accept the reality? How often do we convince ourselves that our pain is not real and we need to do a better job of coping with it?

This article looks at the science behind self-gaslighting and the perils of relying too much on denial as a coping mechanism. It lists some ways you can avoid falling into the trap and how to stop…