If you are a highly empathetic, passive person and have a hard time standing up for yourself, you will be more vulnerable to Gaslighting. Sociopaths/Malignant Narcissists use this strategy over time to control people. When you wish you had recorded the conversation to determine if what you heard, was actually what was said, equals Gaslighting. Abusers want you to question your own reality, to put the blame on you for their bad behavior. If they have no empathy for others, they instead project that on to you, that you don’t have empathy. The most common phrases I have heard from abusers, “I didn’t say that, why would I say that,” “I was just kidding,” “You’re crazy, too over-sensitive,” “You’re the martyr.” They lie so you don’t realize you’re being brainwashed and controlled. Abusers do this slowly, over time as seen by Cult Leaders and Dictators. Abusers also lie to get people against you. If you’re not a liar, difficult for you to understand why someone would make up stories about someone else. Abusers care about how they appear to others so look at their actions, not their words. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201701/11-warning-signs-gaslighting?eml
Action you can take to survive abuse/bullies