A person recently said to me that they sometimes feel gaslighted around me because I so effortlesly make them question their own beliefs and feelings. As someone whose been wondering the question in the title for quite a while I didn’t like hearing that.
I’ve for a very long time been quite critical of myself. I don’t think of me as a very nice person. When I find out that someone doesn’t like being around me I don’t blame them at all. It’s not like I’m intentionally mean, abusive or anything like that. Quite the opposite; I have very strong morals. This however icludes things like not lying which means that I always speak the truth and not everyone likes hearing it. I don’t follow many of the social norms expected of me.
Despite all of this there’s several people that I have very deep relationships with and especially the elderly and for example parents of my past girlfriends all have liked me a lot. I just can’t help but wonder why they don’t see me as I see myself. I’m worried I’m hiding the true me so well that people don’t actually like me but the facade I unknowingly maintain. Then again a true psychopath probably wouldn’t be second quessing themselves in this manner.
neptune@dmv.social 8 months ago
You should talk to a therapist.
Asking this question and being self critical is a good sign.
Being told you are gaslighting is NOT necessarily a sign you are a psychopath. They could be gas lighting you. Or you could just have some other blind spots about your own behavior.
wise_pancake@lemmy.ca 8 months ago
People throw gaslighting around willy nilly now, so it could jest mean OP made them think about some opinion they had.
It’s very hard to say without knowing the person, but I think your advice is good.
FuglyDuck@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Definitely. This.
It’s really the only good answer OP is likely to get on the internet.