Gaslighting Parents: The Psychological Impact on Children

Gaslighting parents can severely affect their children’s mental health and well-being. Parents get into psychological manipulation where they systematically try to undermine their child’s sense of reality, often to control them. They don’t realize this constant invalidation and manipulation can lead to anxiety, depression, and trauma. This parenting style raises children with challenges: codependency, addiction, and an inability to trust themselves or others.

What is Gaslighting?

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that makes individuals doubt their perceptions and experiences. They manipulate a situation to make their victim feel like they are going crazy or that their thoughts and emotions are invalid.

Gaslighting parenting often uses this tactic as a means of control and power over their children. It is a way for them to make their child doubt their thoughts and feelings.

The Psychological Impact of Gaslighting Parents on Children

Gaslighting parents can cause immense psychological harm to their children, impacting their self-esteem, sense of reality, and mental health. Children raised by such parents may grow up with emotional scars that can affect them well into adulthood.

One of the primary impacts of gaslighting on children is a sense of confusion about what is real. When a parent consistently manipulates reality and denies the child’s experience, the child may start to doubt their memories and perception of events. These can lead to anxiety, self-doubt, and a lack of trust in themselves and others.

Children raised by gaslighting may also develop a deep-seated sense of shame. When their experiences are denied and invalidated, they may feel like their thoughts and feelings are not worth expressing or that they are fundamentally flawed. They can lead to low self-esteem and a lack of confidence in their abilities.

Another impact of gaslighting on children is a distorted sense of reality. If a child grows up constantly being told that they are wrong or crazy, they may struggle to understand what is true and what is not. They can lead to feelings of disorientation and detachment from reality, making it challenging to form healthy relationships or navigate life’s challenges.

Common Signs of Gaslighting Parents

They may be unaware of their behavior, as it often comes from their insecurity and desire to control their child. Here are some common signs to look out for:

1. Invalidating feelings: Gaslighting parents often dismiss or belittle their child’s emotions, making them feel like they are overreacting or being dramatic. They may say things like, “Stop being so sensitive.” or “That’s not a big deal, get over it.”

2. Denying reality: Gaslighting parents may deny events or situations that happened, making their child question their memory. For example, a gaslighting parent may say, “That never happened.” or “You’re imagining things.”

3. Blaming the child: Gaslighting parents often shifts blame onto their child, making them feel guilty for things that are not their fault. They may say, “You made me do this.” or “If you weren’t so difficult, this wouldn’t be happening.”

4. Constantly changing the rules: Gaslighting parents may change the “expectations or rules” frequently, making it impossible for their child to keep up. They may say things like, “I never said that.” or “You’re not doing it right.”

5. Gaslighting siblings: Gaslighting parents may pit siblings against each other, creating a dynamic where they constantly compete for their parent’s love and approval. They may say “things like, “Why can’t you be more like your brother/sister?” or “They always do it better than you.”

These signs of gaslighting parents are worth watching, and they must recognize their behavior and seek help to create a healthy and supportive family dynamic.

Related:

• How to Handle Gaslighting Parents | Psychology Today
• Teenage Arrogance and Disrespectful Behavior