IIOST Alumni Community › Forums › Narcissist Recovery & Emotional Healing › How to Handle Gaslighting: ‘I Never Said That’ and Other Lies
Tagged: narcissist gaslighting
- This topic has 3 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 2 weeks, 5 days ago by
Dr Monica Agarwal.
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February 21, 2026 at 8:34 am #141
Dr Monica Agarwal
Keymaster“Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation where the abuser makes the victim question their own memory, perception, or sanity.
Common phrases used by narcissists:
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‘You’re too sensitive/dramatic.’
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‘That never happened, you’re imagining things.’
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‘I only did that because you made me.’
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‘Everyone else thinks you’re the problem.’
How to Protect Your Reality:
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Write it down: Keep a private journal of what actually happened.
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Don’t Argue: You cannot win a logic battle with a gaslighter. Just say, ‘We remember things differently,’ and walk away.”
February 21, 2026 at 8:35 am #144Dr Monica Agarwal
Keymaster“What is one phrase your partner or family member uses to make you feel ‘crazy’? Let’s list them here to show how common this tactic is.”
February 28, 2026 at 7:00 am #157Dr Monica Agarwal
Keymaster## 🛡️ The “Mirror Shield” Visualization
To help the students who are recovering from narcissistic energyThe Technique: Close your eyes. Breathe in 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4.
The Visual: See a shimmering, silver mirror surrounding you. The shiny side faces outward.
The Result: Any “Evil Eye” (Nazar) or manipulative words hit the mirror and reflect back to the source, leaving your inner light untouched.-
This reply was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by
Dr Monica Agarwal.
March 24, 2026 at 9:05 am #161Dr Monica Agarwal
Keymaster🌿 Going Deeper: The 3 Stages of Gaslighting Recovery
Namaste beautiful souls,
So many of you resonated with the gaslighting post. Today I want to take you deeper — because recognising gaslighting is only Step 1. True healing has three stages.
Stage 1: Reality Anchoring (Weeks 1–4)
After gaslighting, your biggest challenge is trusting your own memory and perception. You may constantly second-guess yourself — “Did that really happen? Am I overreacting?”Practice: Start a “Reality Journal.” Every time something happens that feels wrong, write it down immediately. Date. Time. Exact words said. Your exact feelings. This journal becomes your anchor to truth when your mind starts to doubt.
Stage 2: Nervous System Regulation (Months 1–3)
Gaslighting is not just psychological — it rewires your nervous system. You may find yourself constantly in “alert mode” — hypervigilant, unable to relax, flinching at raised voices.Practice: 4-7-8 Breathing. Inhale for 4 counts. Hold for 7. Exhale for 8. Do this 3 times whenever you feel the anxiety rising. This directly signals your nervous system: “You are safe now.”
Stage 3: Identity Reclamation (Months 3–12)
This is the deepest work. Long-term gaslighting makes you forget who you were before them. You may not even know your own likes, dislikes, or opinions without referencing what they would think.Practice: Every morning, answer 3 questions in your journal —
What do I want today? (Not what they would want)
What made me happy before this relationship?
What is one thing that is true about me that no one can take away? -
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