You feel like you’re losing your grip on reality. One moment, you’re sure your partner said something hurtful. The next, they’re telling you it never happened. Maybe you’re just being too sensitive. Maybe you’re overreacting. Or maybe you’re being gaslit.

Gaslighting is one of the most insidious forms of manipulation. It makes you question your perceptions, memory, and even sanity. But what if, without realizing it, you’re helping your manipulative partner keep you trapped? Here are three ways you may be helping the cycle—and how to break free.

Example: Leila confronted her boyfriend, Damian, about his cruel remark at dinner. He scoffed instead of owning up to it, “You’re always twisting my words. I never said that.” After an hour of back-and-forth, Leila apologized for “misunderstanding” him—even though she was sure he said it.

Why It Happens: Gaslighters thrive on shifting........

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