Guilt and Gaslighting: Unraveling the Mind’s Silent Saboteurs

SHOW NOTES:

On this show…we are exploring guilt and gaslighting as we unravel the mind’s silent saboteurs. This topic is as sneaky as a cat burglar and as subtle as a whoopee cushion at a royal banquet: guilt and gaslighting. Ever felt like your mind’s been playing tricks on you, only to realize someone else was the magician?  Life throws enough curveballs without someone pitching guilt and gaslighting into the mix, right? But here’s the good news—you have the power to call out those sneaky mind games, hit pause on the guilt spiral, and rewrite the narrative. Today, we’re diving deep into the tricky terrain of guilt and gaslighting: why they happen, how they mess with your head, and most importantly, how you can rise above them. So buckle up for a journey of clarity and courage because It’s time to reclaim your peace of mind and say, “No thanks, manipulation—I’ll stick to reality!”

To set the stage, let’s define our key players. Guilt is that nagging feeling when we’ve done something wrong—or sometimes when we haven’t, but someone wants us to think we have. Gaslighting, on the other hand, is a form of psychological manipulation where someone makes you doubt your own reality. It’s like being convinced that the sky is green when you know it’s blue. Understanding these concepts is the first step in recognizing their impact on our lives.

At Neuro Launch I found some Effects of Gaslighting on the Brain: Psychological and Neurological Impacts

Over at Psych Central, I found How to Spot Manipulation Tactics

Frederick Ribersson on the Decoding Narcissism’s YouTube channel How to IMPLODE A Narcissist GUILT Trip Game 

Let’s not let the idea of Rising Above go unexplored. We’ve all heard of rising above a situation as being the bigger person, taking the high road an letting things go first. But I want you to think of another idea…actually hovering over a situation to get a different perspective. 

Imagine being in the middle of chaos, drama, or any overwhelming situation. In the middle is tough because it feels like you are surrounded and from this vantage point where you can’t see your way out, you might feel hopeless. 

Rise above, crawl up higher in your mind’s eye so that you can look down on a situation. From up here the issue shrinks and you can take in the entire scope of the situation seeing how thinks can be interrelated or interdependent. From this new perspective and the time you took to gain it, you can truly process the challenge and your next move. 

You have more control over your thinking than you think you do. 

For instance:

• Trust Your Perceptions: Acknowledge your feelings and experiences without immediately dismissing them.
• Set Boundaries: Clearly communicate your limits and stand firm against attempts to undermine them.
• Seek Support: Talk to trusted friends, family, or a mental health professional about your experiences.
• Document Interactions: Keep a record of conversations and events to reference if your memory is questioned.
• Educate Yourself: Learn about common manipulation tactics to better recognize them.

CHALLENGE: Trust your inner compass, set firm boundaries, and seek support when faced with manipulation. Embrace your reality and stand strong against those who attempt to distort it. You own your power!

 

I Know YOU Can Do It!