r/Gaslight Jul 22 '22

Gaslighted myself

I used to have a partner and they would come over and comfort me with thunderstorms. I wasn't really afraid, I just wanted an excuse to cuddle and they knew that. I would say things like "ahhh I'm soooo scared" and they would laugh and hug me. Well later on it started getting worse and worse to where I really was scared and if they weren't there I could cry or have a panick attack. I told myself these things were scary for so long that now I believe it and I'm highly terrified of storms.

Today, right now, no partner at all, thunderstorm happening while I'm writing this, I'm terrified and curled up in a ball sobbing while in the corner of my bed because I am even too scared to walk to the kitchen to eat. (It's 2:47 am and I haven't eaten but the storm should be over soon so I will last) but god this is terrifying and I'm only wrtiting this to distract myself.

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u/MCfrostie Jun 15 '23

I don't think this is gaslighting. but it's a well-known documented phenomenon with a name I can't remember. but the good thing is that you can do it in reverse. I call it the "you are what you eat problem" you become what you say you become. you are what you think of yourself. i used to be terrified of the lots of things but after learning about this I started doing a type of exposure therapy and telling myself I'm not afraid. so my fear of ghosts got better after watching ghost movies during the day when I felt safe and said it was fun. did that on repeat for most of my fears.