How to Navigate Government Gaslighting

Watching the news out of Minnesota this past month has been hard. I watched in horror what happened in Minneapolis shortly after meeting with some clients who live there—in the trenches—trying to make sense of what they are experiencing on top of their own mental health struggles. It’s a lot to bear witness to. I saw the news alert come across my cell phone and didn’t think much of it—the way it was written, it sounded like they took out someone who had aggressively approached officers with a weapon. But then I opened Instagram and saw some of the video from the scene. I was horrified, sick to my stomach at what I was witnessing. Then I saw the “spin” Homeland Security put on it and was angered. What stood out to me was the audacity in the statements—clearly gaslighting the public—that twisted the reality of what occurred into some sick version of a fabricated truth. A fabricated truth is really a LIE, plain and simple. Classic gaslighting—getting us to question what we perceive to be reality and substituting it with their own twisted version of the truth and expecting us to accept it. I would also add the concocted narrative painted their “officers” in a positive light. So how do we stay ahead of gaslighting? First, it’s important to understand what gaslighting is—from a therapist’s perspective.

The term “gaslighting” comes from the 1938 stage play Gas Light by Patrick Hamilton, which was adapted into a 1944 film starring Ingrid Bergman. It is the story of a husband who systematically manipulates his wife to make her believe she is going insane. He dims the gas-powered lights in their home but insists she is imagining the change when she points it out. By making her doubt her own senses, he aims to isolate her and gain total control over her inheritance. Fast forward to today, and the definition can be applied to relationships, medical care (medical professionals dismissing women’s pain), or workplaces undermining employees’ confidence. Today, it has been broadened to include state-level disinformation, corporate spin, and general dishonesty. There may be some disagreement on the overuse of the term, but at the core, it is an attack on a person’s perception of the truth.

What, then, is institutional gaslighting? It is where the government moves beyond simple propaganda and enters the territory of disorientation. The goal is to consolidate power and avoid accountability. This is accomplished by denying public records, statistics, or visual evidence. The “hook” is exploiting civic trust and institutional authority. The end result of this is the public is left apathetic and exhausted. I know, it sounds awful. This is our new reality. We have to learn how to live and function within it. If we don’t, our physical and mental health will suffer.

Here are 5 ways you can protect yourself from the gaslighting.

1. Maintain your own “primary source” archive. Also known as keeping a diary or journal of events. That way, if you ever feel a need to check your memory of an event, you can check. For a deeper dive, research original source material.
2. Diversify your information sources. Get an international perspective—from a source you can trust. See how they report the same incidents. Seek out independent experts—historians, legal scholars who have a track record of consistency and don’t rely on government funding.
3. Identify doublespeak and redirection. This can be done two ways: a. The non-apology denial: “That didn’t happen and if it did, it wasn’t a big deal.” b. Attacking the messenger: when those in power attack whistleblowers in an effort to distract and discredit.
4. Practice informational hygiene. This one is important—so many people have been caught in the trap of doomscrolling, losing hours a day endlessly scrolling social media. This constant exposure to contradictory and high-stress news leads to the exhaustion that those in power crave. Schedule times to check the news. Then put down your phone and get back to living. Use mindfulness techniques to keep you grounded and in the present moment. This can help you reinforce yourself as the observer of your own life.
5. Find your “tribe.” This is important too! Gather your tribe—like-minded people who share your views. They can help you stay on top of discrepancies. This can help create a shared sense of reality. Gaslighters hate this. Build a coalition. Engage in advocacy groups. Getting involved can build a sense of agency. It helps you move from a “victim” to “observer/activist” relationship with the state. That in and of itself is something I think we all could use right now.

Here is a great litmus test: “Does this explanation require me to ignore what I saw with my own eyes or heard with my own ears?” If the answer is yes, you are being gaslit.

The more we recognize these patterns, the less power they have over us. Naming what’s happening is not just personal healing; it’s collective resistance. When we trust our perceptions, honor our boundaries, and validate one another’s experiences, we interrupt the cycles of denial and distortion that keep so many of us isolated and doubting ourselves.

Now, more than ever, it’s vital to stay vigilant, stay informed, and stand together. I encourage you to start a conversation, share your experiences, and support each other. Only by building community and trusting our own perceptions can we begin to push back against the forces that seek to manipulate and exhaust us.

Let’s hold each other—and our institutions—accountable. If this post resonated with you, please:

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Your voice matters here. Together, we can reclaim our reality, support one another’s mental health, and stand strong against the noise.