Psychology Today defines gaslighting as “an insidious form of manipulation and psychological control.”*
As a victim of gaslighting you “are deliberately and systematically fed false information,”* which may make you question what you know to be true (not about them, but yourself).*
It can be hard for a victim “to see the truth.”*
Gaslighting can and does occur in personal and professional relationships.
It happens in medical offices – often. If your doctor or medical professional is displaying any of the following symptoms, they may be gaslighting you.
My advice is to switch providers immediately.
Fire your doctor if he or she is minimizing your needs.
Nothing good comes out of being treated by a doctor who gaslights you. (And nothing good comes from staying in a personal relationship with someone who gaslights you.)
People who gaslight others are manipulative, seek power, and wish to control you whether it be financially, physically, medically or emotionally.
The Cleveland Clinic explains, “gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse and mental manipulation.”
Your doctor:
- Insinuates “it’s all in your head”
- Insinuates “you are crazy”
- Shuts down conversations
- Says you are being “too sensitive”
- Tells you how you feel “is wrong”
- Keeps cutting you off while you speak
- Says “you are being dramatic”
- Is posturing in the room (talking down to you)
The best response to gaslighting is no response.
As Dr. Chivonna Childs, PhD, noted, “A fire cannot burn if there’s no fuel. They can’t fight if there’s nothing to fight with.”
Walk away….
Trust that your life, health, and overall wellbeing will flourish after saying goodbye to this doctor.
Nothing healthy or positive comes from a person that gaslights you. I encourage you to take a fresh look at the doctors you let you treat you. This can be applied to every sector of your life.