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Is coercive control gaslighting?

Gaslighting is a form of coercive control used to distort victims' sense of reality and lower their self-esteem. The term originates from a 1938 play 'Gaslight' where a husband's manipulation of his wife includes dimming gaslights and telling her she is hallucinating. It also affects all sectors of society.

jonesmyers.co.uk - Coercive Control and gaslighting - what you need to know

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Coercive Control and gaslighting – what you need to know

28 March 2022 | Written by Jones Myers

By Jones Myers Family Law Solicitor, Jane Bolton

The issue of coercive control and its devastating effect on victims has been re-enforced in a landmark High Court case where the term ‘gaslighting’ appears in a published judgement for the first time. Coercive control has been a criminal offence in England and Wales since 2015. It happens when someone personally connected to you displays controlling and manipulative behaviour to make you feel controlled, dependent, isolated, or scared. Gaslighting is a form of coercive control used to distort victims’ sense of reality and lower their self-esteem. The term originates from a 1938 play ‘Gaslight’ where a husband’s manipulation of his wife includes dimming gaslights and telling her she is hallucinating. It also affects all sectors of society. The recent High Court case centres around a woman who had been raped and abused by her partner. The father of her child and a mental health care worker, he convinced her family and health professionals that she had bipolar disorder. The case went to the Court of Appeal after a judge in an initial ruling warned the mother that, if she continued with her claims or rape and abuse, her child would be taken into care and adopted. He also issued a consent order setting out time when the father could see his child. However High Court Judge, Mr Justice Cobb, decreed that the mother was a vulnerable and naïve woman who had been subjected to emotional control/coercion. He also said there was no clear medical evidence that she suffered from bi-polar. Agreeing that the use of the term gaslighting by the mother’s representative, human rights lawyer Dr Charlotte Proudman, was ‘apposite,’ Mr Justice Cobb said, ‘the father’s conduct represented a form of insidious abuse designed to cause the mother to question her own mental well-being, indeed her sanity.’ It is a major step forward that this case sets a precedent for the use of the term gaslighting in the family courts and is instrumental in highlighting public awareness of coercive control. Latest Government statistics reveal the volume of recorded domestic abuse-related crimes in England and Wales continues to rise with 845,734 reported cases in the year ending March 2021. This represents a six per cent increase on the previous year. The effect of these crimes on victims includes anger, shame, fear, isolation, resentment, psychological problems, self-harm, and feelings of powerlessness. Many worry that their children can also become targets of abuse. As a firm which witnesses the devastating effect of domestic abuse on victims, our skilled and sensitive family law specialists can help victims of abuse, or threatened violence, to protect themselves and their loved ones. We encourage anyone who is in this position to talk to us about the issues they are facing. We can assist with decisions regarding their relationship and refer them to fellow professionals including counsellors. If you are concerned about coercive control, gaslighting, domestic abuse or any aspect of family law, call us at Leeds on, Harrogate on, or York on. Visit www.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

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How do you know if a guy still cares after a breakup?

Make note of times they've said “I miss you.” Sometimes, your ex might say things that will directly indicate that they still care. If they are telling you that they miss you or miss being around you, this is a clear sign that they still have feelings for you. Notice if they bring up old memories.

wikihow.com - 3 Ways to Tell if Your Ex Still Cares - wikiHow

This article was co-authored by Maria Avgitidis . Maria Avgitidis is the CEO & Matchmaker of Agape Match, a matchmaking service based out of New York City. For over a decade, she has successfully combined four generations of family matchmaking tradition with modern relationship psychology and search techniques to ensure her professional clientele are introduced to their ultimate match. Maria and Agape Match have been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, Fast Company, CNN, Esquire, Elle, Reuters, Vice, and Thrillist. This article has been viewed 844,741 times.

Article Summary

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To tell if your ex still cares about you, watch for friendly and consistent communication, which could be a sign that they want to be a part of your life again. For example, if they regularly reach out to you or like your social media posts, they most likely care about you. Furthermore, pay attention to if your ex brings up old memories a lot, since an ex who is interested in you may tend to reminisce. If you're still not sure how your ex feels, ask them if they have time to talk and share your feelings with them. In some cases, you may decide to get back together. However, if they expressly say that they would rather move on, don't try to change their mind and let them go. For more tips from our co-author, including how to get your ex to respect your space, read on.

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