If you’ve ever second-guessed yourself so hard you felt like you were living in a plot twist of your own making, congratulations—you’ve already dipped a toe into the art of self-gaslighting. It’s the DIY version of that classic psychological manipulation technique, except you’re both the villain and the victim. Ready to master this dubious skill? Here’s your totally not-endorsed five-step plan:

1. Rewrite Your Own History

Why let pesky things like “facts” ruin a perfectly good spiral? Whenever you recall a memory, casually suggest to yourself, “That probably didn’t happen the way I think it did. I’m too dramatic.” Bonus points if you add a shrug and a sigh.

2. Turn Feelings into Fake News

Feeling sad? Tell yourself, “I’m overreacting. Nobody else would feel this way.” Remember: the goal is to invalidate every emotion until you start apologizing to houseplants.

3. Doubt Your Senses—All of Them

Was that a compliment? Or a cleverly disguised insult? Convince yourself you misheard. Smelled smoke? Definitely just your imagination. Reality is overrated anyway.

4. Compare Yourself to Imaginary Perfect People

Invent flawless humans who would never forget a deadline or spill coffee on their shirt. Then remind yourself how you fall tragically short. Self-esteem is for amateurs.

5. Call It “Motivation”

Label this whole process as “self-improvement.” After all, nothing says growth like chronic self-doubt wrapped in a motivational poster.

But Seriously…

While we can laugh at the absurdity, self-gaslighting is real and harmful. Minimizing your emotions, dismissing your perceptions, or rewriting your own story can feed anxiety and depression.
The good news? Awareness is the first step toward change.

If you notice these patterns, consider reaching out for support. As a licensed psychologist with more than twenty years of experience, I help people untangle these mental knots and rebuild trust in their own thoughts and feelings.
Call me at (404) 341-5682 to start a healthier conversation with yourself. Let’s talk soon!