Someone who has ever struggled with a drug or alcohol addiction knows that they might have said or done anything they needed to get their next fix. When you are caught up in the addiction spiral, you may not see the dysfunction behind any manipulative or abusive behavior displayed that helps to maintain your addiction. Learning to identify “gaslighting” can help put an end to this traumatic and abusive behavior.
Gaslighting Explained
“Gaslighting” is a type of psychological abuse characterized by a person using deceit, lying, and manipulation with the intent to challenge and confuse another person’s knowledge, perceptions, and memories. The person on the receiving end of the gaslighting starts doubting themselves so much that they stop trusting their perception of events. Without trusting themselves, they begin to think they are the problem, not the other person.
Gaslighting As Seen In Addiction
When using gaslighting as a maladaptive communication tool, people suffering from addiction perpetuate their destructive behaviors. When someone tries to point out they may have a problem, they might gaslight the other person in several ways like denial, lying, or making others believe that they are too “uptight” or “judgemental.” In time, these interactions can significantly influence a person’s psychology. The person on the receiving end of the gaslighting enables the addiction by making constant excuses or blaming themselves for the distressing behavior. Learn to identify the signs of a person experiencing gaslighting below to stop the cycle of addiction.
- You say “I’m sorry” all of the time to the abusive person.
- The abusive person claims everyone else is lying.
- You find yourself making excuses and defending the abusive person’s behavior.
- You question if maybe the abusive person is unreasonably sensitive.
- You question your self-worth because of how the abusive person treats you.
- The abusive person denies things that you can prove.
- The abusive person projects their behavior onto you, causing you to become defensive even though they are the one committing the act.
- You have become withdrawn and isolate yourself.
Many people suffering from addiction use gaslighting to disguise their problems and continue their addictive behaviors. It is an abusive, emotionally risky behavior for someone to endure. If you or a loved one struggles with addiction, contact Avalon Malibu and stop the dangerous cycle of addiction. At Avalon, our team of experienced professionals is ready to support you through your recovery. We can help you regain clarity and honesty in your life and relationships again by addressing your addiction. Contact us today at (844) 857-5992 and free yourself from the grips of addiction.
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