Featured Mental Health Articles

Have you ever found yourself saying or doing things that can have a manipulative or damaging effect on someone else’s well-being? If so, you may be guilty of gaslighting without even realizing it.

This kind of action can negatively impact the people around you and leave psychological scars that last for years. Luckily, there are steps you can take to break this toxic cycle for good.

According to experts, here are ways to stop yourself from gaslighting others and learn techniques on how best to handle difficult conversations in healthier ways.

"Have you ever had that gut feeling that your sibling is toxic? If so, you’re not alone. It can be tough to spot the signs, but they are more common than you might think."

"Initially, it can be a shock to view yourself in the mirror after cancer treatment. Your body may not feel or look like your own. It may seem as though a stranger is looking back at you in the mirror."

“It can be challenging to spend a holiday alone — we may grieve not having a holiday similar to what we’ve had in the past and may be grieving the holiday we hoped we would have presently,” says Kimberly Schaffer, MSW, LCSW, CSSW, CCS, clinical director and practice owner of Attentive Psychotherapy.

The type of activity is important because “forcing an introvert to be extroverted may have short term benefits in relation to socialization, however, this type of interaction is difficult to maintain for an extended period,” added Kimberly Schaffer, MSW, LCSW, CCS.

They're An Introvert And Need Alone Time

"Introverts need time alone to recharge their energy level, and as a result, they may become more distant," therapist Kimberly Schaffer, MSW, LCSW, tells Bustle. If this is the case, there's really no reason to worry. Just give your partner the space they need and you should be fine.​

It’s a different situation if your child is in potential danger from a friendship. A child’s frontal lobes aren’t fully developed, so they underestimate risks and may think they’re invincible, said Kimberly Schaffer, a licensed clinical social worker in New Jersey.

GIVE THEM SPACE

Therapist Kimberly Schaffer tells Bustle that removing yourself from the situation can be one of the most important things to do if someone reacts badly to your diagnosis. “Give the relationship some space (for both of you),” she says. “Try to understand [that] they may not know how to help you. Time, space and patience go a long way. Let them know you are available to talk about it when they are ready.”

It’s not you, it’s them

“It means the friend either does not have the energy, emotional readiness, time, or ability to confront the person they are ghosting,” psychotherapist Kimberly Schaffer told HelloGiggles. “They are choosing themselves over the person they ghosted.”

By giving your bedroom a once over each night, you can ensure that it's set up perfectly for an optimal night's sleep, while also signaling to your brain to get ready for bed. "Really take a look at your sleep environment and make it the most comfortable for you," psychotherapist Kimberly Schaffer, MSW, LCSW, CSSW, CCS tells Bustle. Get more pillows, spray a soothing aromatherapy scent like lavender, and turn the temperature down to the optimal sleep temp.​

"Spend Valentine’s Day caring for yourself, as recommended by Licensed Clinical Social Worker Kimberly Schaffer: “Self-love is the purest and healthiest form of love. Valentine’s Day is a time when we can truly show our love for ourselves by doing things we enjoy. There are so many options, whether it be going out for a delicious meal, going to the movies, splurging on something special for yourself, getting a massage, exercising, or reading a good book. Valentine’s Day does not need to center around romantic love. Romantic love only develops when we love ourselves.”