“Gaslighting is mind control to make victims doubt their reality.”
Tracy Malone
Introduction
Abuse comes in many forms, but one of the horrific is that of Gaslighting. This hidden and taboo subject, where a poisoned tongue replaces the fist, leaves the victim feeling worthless and often ends up believing what is constantly hurled at them in a sustained attack that can come at any time of the day. The slamming of a door, the arguments, belittling and treating a grown adult like a caged animal. Gaslighting is not a myth; it is a reality, a cancer of society that affects both men and women. Yet, one that many fear talking about is hidden behind the front door. The loneliness, the fear of telling others and sobbing uncontrollably into your pillow is no way to live, but it becomes a norm for those who suffer it and are fearful of rocking the boat once again. An abuse that causes the victim to question their actions and creates madness in their brain where they become a prisoner in their own home and sadness in the eyes where a scream becomes a muffled plea.
Mental Hell
Gaslighting is a complex issue and is often difficult to pinpoint, but it is essentially about control. Even if the abuser has had past turmoil in their life, it does not excuse repeating it on others. A lie is a manipulation of the truth, describing the victim as mad or paranoid and leaving the victim isolated from friends and family and at the mercy of the abuser. This is an abusive malaise that can ultimately lead to a decline in health, mental stability, self-harm and even suicide. The victim could be controlled financially and denied the freedom of life that many take for granted. I would liken this horrific experience to being like a prisoner in your home with a jailer who cares nothing for your feelings and is only content with making your life a living misery. The wrong look or something said, leading a tirade of verbal abuse that leaves the victim distraught and helpless. When you are labelled useless, worthless, and a hindrance, it doesn’t take much to enter the dark clouds of mental illness. You start blaming yourself for another’s believable words.
A world that takes no prisoners and spits you out onto the curb. Some take the bold decision to leave but others stay, too frightened to escape their mental captor. Sadly the gaslight stills burns bright in many a household, leaving deep mental scars on the victim and those that witness it. A despicable crime that often goes unnoticed and festers away below the radar. The signs are often there but often too late for the victim to evade being sucked into this vile vortex.
