Public conversations about abuse can become distorted very quickly. Once a story becomes widely shared, people often stop focusing on behavior and start focusing on image, gender, and likability. This is certainly the case with "The Bachelorette" and "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star Taylor Frankie Paul, which makes the case worth examining more carefully.

The Netflix film Gaslit by My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story has brought renewed attention to a painful dynamic that can unfold behind closed doors: gaslighting in a marriage or intimate relationship. While this story reflects an extreme example of emotional abuse, many people experience a quieter version of the same pattern — one that slowly chips away at confidence, clarity, and trust in their own perceptions.

Gaslighting in a relationship occurs when a partner uses manipulative tactics to shift the power dynamic.