4 Ways Gaslighters Attempt to Ruin Your Self-Esteem

Gaslighting can cause confusion and issues with self-esteem.

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Few people are entirely immune to the effects of gaslighting because its tactics are highly effective. Gaslighting is an attempt made by someone to instill doubt in your perception of reality. It can present in any relationship in which an imbalance of power exists—not just romantic relationships but also relationships with family and friends, at work, in the medical field, in academia or in societal structures as a whole. The aim to negatively impact ego strengths and personal values causes confusion that makes it difficult to determine when gaslighting is even happening.

The payoff for the gaslighter is the erosion of their target’s self-esteem, which allows them to gain control over the other person and perpetuate various cycles of abuse. Someone who displays strong self-esteem is threatening to a gaslighter or emotional abuser, as it is more difficult to manipulate them. In those cases, the gaslighter may double down on their efforts, which is why awareness is key to self-protection.

4 Ways Gaslighters Attempt to Ruin Your Self-Esteem

1. Deception. Even when presented with evidence, gaslighters will blatantly deny personal wrongdoing, commonly by manipulating the truth. The gaslighter will attempt to make their victim think they are crazy for thinking they would do anything negative in the first place, no matter how bizarre the situation appears. This form of gaslighting leads to confusion and self-doubt, as the target’s thoughts will become distorted to fit the gaslighter’s version of reality. An example was when my co-author, survivor and podcast host Kendall Ann Combs, confronted her ex-abuser after he “accidentally” cut a chunk of hair off her head. The situation was so bizarre and startling that when he gaslit her using deception to make her think she was being unreasonable and paranoid, his tactics worked.

Having a firm sense of one’s own reality is important when considering self-esteem. Studies have shown that reality therapy, which is a client-centered form of cognitive behavioral therapy, is an effective therapy for improving self-esteem. It focuses on improving current situations in our lives, as opposed to fixating on problems from the past, and helping us get needs met in the present. A gaslighter wants nothing to do with the reality of the present and will instead continue to fixate on the past, which is more difficult to organize and defend.

2. Indirect persuasion. This form of gaslighting typically occurs after the early stages of love-bombing when one grows to idealize their abuser. Once they have your trust, they can more effectively make suggestions that are not conducive to your actual desires, appearing innocent while doing so. Jackson MacKenzie outlined this tactic in his book, Psychopath Free: A gaslighter insults someone from a past relationship, while complimenting you in order to get you to comply with things they want from you now. Some examples MaxKenzie cites include:

• My ex and I always fought. We never fight.
• My ex always needed to talk on the phone. You’re not needy or demanding.
• My ex would always nag me about getting a job. You’re so much more understanding.

These “compliments” are actually forms of manipulation meant to silence your desires, needs, and emotions. If you choose to express contrasting thoughts, an abuser will likely counter with the silent treatment or other blatant or passive forms of verbal aggression. Having your own opinion puts you at risk of losing the idealized version of you they've created, but constantly censoring your thoughts and emotions is harmful for your self-esteem, as it impedes your ability to think for yourself and assert your own needs.

3. Projection. This is a tactic used by a gaslighter who struggles with their own self-esteem, so they aim to ruin yours. The gaslighter will defend their insecurities by denying personal issues and “pushing” them onto others. The phrase, “the pot calling the kettle black” is an effective way to describe this form of gaslighting. Once your self-esteem is negatively impacted, causing self-doubt, it makes accusations about your character flaws more believable. No one should intentionally want to make you feel bad about yourself or diminish your self-esteem or self-worth, and if you find yourself in a cycle in which someone constantly is, it is likely you are experiencing gaslighting in the form of projection.

4. Aligning people against the victim. The gaslighter will work to make their target believe that others think they are just as crazy or defective as the gaslighter says they are. This tactic is neither casual nor passive; it is overtly dismissive and aggressive, further eroding self-esteem and making it difficult to connect with positive feelings about oneself. Imagine if you woke up one day, hospitalized, and were told that you had suffered a mental breakdown and everything you thought happened last week was a dream. Now imagine it was not just one person who told you this but a collection of people, including those you trust and care about. The effects of a thorough gaslighting regimen can feel just as disarming. By aligning others against you, it is less likely you will reach out, even though processing your experience and getting support from the people you trust is exactly what is needed.

Reclaiming Your Self-Esteem and Sense of Reality

The last person who will help you reclaim your self-esteem is the one who is gaslighting you. They do not want you to have confidence in your right to joy and love, and so any efforts you make to defend yourself will likely be weaponized with other forms of gaslighting.

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Choosing not to go to the gaslighter for confirmation is the first step in reclaiming your self-esteem. Next is addressing your inner self-talk and cognitions. Because self-esteem is an experience realized through thoughts and perceptions, engaging in compassionate self-talk can be a powerful way to regain your self-worth and sense of reality. Self-compassion expert, author and professor Kristen Neff, suggests talking to yourself as you would a friend. Try thinking of a goal you are struggling to accomplish and check in about how you normally speak to yourself about it. Now ask yourself if you would say these things to a friend or loved one. If not, how can you reframe these statements to be more compassionate? Having a growth mindset and allowing for mistakes will result in more creative thinking and proactive action.

Finally, and potentially most important, is choosing to surround yourself with supportive people. Get perspectives from others about the gaslighting, and fact check with yourself and with them. If you are not ready to reach out and delve into your painful experiences, spend time with your inner self through journaling, meditation, or speaking out loud. Sorting through your feelings can help you regain your reality, allowing you to remember that you are not crazy, you are not alone, and you are not broken.

Portions of this post were adapted from my book co-authored with Kendall Ann Combs, What I Wish I Knew: Surviving and Thriving After an Abusive Relationship and my forthcoming book, Gaslighting Recovery for Women: The Complete Guide to Recognizing Manipulation and Achieving Freedom from Emotional Abuse.

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