Too Much Gas

When people are gaslit too much—meaning they are repeatedly manipulated into questioning their reality, memories, or perceptions—it can have serious psychological and emotional consequences.

When a person is gaslit, they start doubting their own thoughts, feelings, and judgments. They may feel unable to make decisions without external validation. Constantly second-guessing reality can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. The victim may feel trapped, hopeless, or emotionally drained.

The perpetrator creates a cycle where the victim becomes dependent on them for "truth" and reassurance. This can lead to unhealthy power dynamics in relationships. It can also lead to some pretty shocking surprises on election day.

Over time, the victim may lose confidence in their beliefs, values, and sense of self. They may struggle with feelings of worthlessness or confusion about who they are. Gas lighters often convince victims that others can’t be trusted. The victim may withdraw from friends and family, making them easier to control. Frequently the gaslit turn to social media for refuge, which can be a powerful tool of leverage for the gas lighter if they happen to control the platform.

Severe gaslighting, especially over long periods, can lead to trauma responses, hypervigilance, and PTSD-like symptoms. The person might become overly apologetic, fearful, or experience flashbacks. Eventually, some victims recognize the manipulation and break free. Others, unfortunately, may remain in the cycle due to deep emotional entanglement.

But what about the gas lighter? What happens to them? If they get away with it, they may continue manipulating others without consequences. If confronted, they might double down, deny, or shift blame. Over time, people who habitually gaslight risk losing credibility, relationships, and sometimes legal or social repercussions.

At the media level, contradictory messaging & reality distortion, the fomenting of division and mistrust all while downplaying real issues and simultaneously fear mongering are how the media, and political class gaslight the American people. Eventually however this can lead to crisis fatigue and even when the earth is about to be destroyed by an inbound asteroid, people simply don't bother to look up. (an only thinly veiled reference to the movie "Dont Look Up" ... which I suppose would classify as a direct reference )

While political/media gaslighting plays a role, other major factors include:

• Economic insecurity (student debt, healthcare costs, job instability)
• Social isolation (increased due to technology, urbanization, and cultural shifts)
• Declining community support (weaker social bonds, loss of local institutions)
• Overwork and burnout (American work culture prioritizes productivity over well-being)
• Lack of accessible mental health care (high costs, provider shortages, stigma)

Media and political gaslighting can amplify anxiety and distrust, but they aren’t the root cause of the mental health crisis. The crisis is deeply tied to systemic economic, social, and healthcare failures. If politicians and media focused more on honest communication, tangible solutions, and reducing fear-based narratives, it could ease some of the psychological burden people face today. This is particularly true because those politicians and the media are gaslighting us into thinking that the other contributing factors listed above are all in our head.