Gaslighting is a form of psychological/emotional abuse where the abuser manipulates situations repeatedly to trick the victim into doubting this/her own memory, perception and sanity. Gaslighting is a form of mind-control leaving victims afraid to trust their own experience and memories of a situation.

A lie is telling something that is not true. A fallacy is false reasoning.

Signs of gaslighting no longer feeling like the person you used to be. being more anxious and less confident than you used to be. often wondering if you’re being too sensitive. feeling like everything you do is wrong.

Being Manipulated – Being fueled by guilt and shame the codependent is controlled by the “have to” mentality. They often think that if they aren’t able to help someone enough they could potentially lose love and acceptance from that person.

Codependency is not true love. It is a love addiction that can destroy your relationship and destroy you as a person. By becoming aware of the pitfalls of codependency, you’ve already taken the first step towards a healthy relationship with your partner.

Some healthy steps to healing your relationship from codependency include:

1. Start being honest with yourself and your partner.
2. Stop negative thinking.
3. Don’t take things personally.
4. Take breaks.
5. Consider counseling.
6. Rely on peer support.
7. Establish boundaries.

Symptoms of codependency Find no satisfaction or happiness in life outside of doing things for the other person. Stay in the relationship even if they are aware that their partner does hurtful things. Do anything to please and satisfy their enabler no matter what the expense to themselves.

In an effort to be seen, be heard, be loved, be noticed, feel important, or try to navigate the pain of abuse, we develop codependent behaviors. We caretake, we people please, and we put our needs beneath someone else’s, all the while losing our sense of self-worth, as well as the foundation of our identity.

Codependency is a mental and emotional problem that affects the way people interact and connect with others in an interpersonal relationship. Codependent individuals often have excessive emotional or psychological dependence on their significant other making for a relationship dynamic that is toxic and unfulfilling.

Children who are raised to believe that their feelings aren’t significant learn to live through other people’s emotions, leading to codependent behavior. The prevalence of codependency is difficult to ascertain. Some estimates suggest that over 90 percent of the American population demonstrates codependent behavior.

A person who is codependent in one situation might be narcissistic in another. For instance, a person might become codependent in their marriage, serving their spouse’s every need. Yet that same person may feel an unending need for respect and praise from their children.

10 Signs of Covert Narcissism

• Sensitivity to criticism.
• Passive aggression.
• Self-criticism.
• Shyness.
• Fantasies.
• Other mental health issues.
• Long-held grudges.
• Envy.

Codependents tend to enable addicts because, subconsciously, they believe they need that addict to remain sick. Their existence thrives on the conflict and turmoil created by a relationship with an addict. On the other hand, addicts need codependents to continually justify their addiction.