The writer might want to use a different term besides “gaslight”.
That’s a nebulous, hard to pin down term, that has become overused.
You are being told, by someone who is there and you’re supposed to be able to believe, that what you are hearing isn’t what you are hearing but rather something else entirely. It’s akin to ‘Who are you going to believe? Me or your lying eyes’?
I’m kind of surprised that the term that comes from a movie from the ‘40s is so widely recognized and used today.
I’m sort of Old School about that. I would prefer the antiquated term “B.S.” used as an active verb phrase.
Gaslighting is weaponized lying. It’s a very specific, useful and powerful term that calls out the baddies. By no means is it hazy or hard to understand. People just need to: A) believe that people can behave in Major League evil ways, and/or B) realize that they themselves are engaging in gaslighting people with whom they have a close relationship (spouse, child, employee, supposed friend), develop remorse for that behavior, and reform.