Gaslighting, Ghosting, and Other Olympic Sports We Never Signed Up For

Welcome to the Emotional Olympics.

The games no one asked to compete in, but somehow we all end up qualifying for. The events? Gaslighting, ghosting, breadcrumbing, love bombing, and the occasional co-parenting cage match. The judges? Biased. The medals? Mostly trauma.
But here’s the twist: while these “sports” are exhausting, they also teach us a lot about resilience, boundaries, and growth. So grab your emotional support water bottle, because we’re diving into the highlights reel.

🥇 Event 1: Gaslighting – The Mental Gymnastics Routine

Gaslighting is the Simone Biles of toxic relationship events—full of flips, twists, and impossible-to-follow logic. The rules are simple: deny reality, twist the truth, and make the other person question their sanity.
I’ve seen this event up close, and let me tell you, the scoring system is rigged. The gaslighter always seems to stick the landing, while the rest of us are left dizzy, wondering if we imagined the whole thing.
The truth? Gaslighting isn’t a sport worth training for. The real gold medal is learning to trust your own perception again. That’s the kind of routine worth perfecting.

What Helps:
• Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Tawwab – a practical guide to rebuilding trust in yourself.
• Guided Self-Reflection Journal – because sometimes writing it down is the best way to remind yourself you’re not “imagining things.”

🥈 Event 2: Ghosting – The Disappearing Act

Ah, ghosting. The vanishing trick of modern relationships. Competitors disappear faster than free samples at Costco, leaving the other person wondering if you’ve joined a monastery or been abducted by aliens.
And here’s where I confess: if ghosting were an Olympic sport, I’d have taken home the platinum medal. My event prep? Moving to another state, blocking my now-wife on everything, and convincing myself that my MLM hustle was going to be my gold medal moment. Spoiler: it wasn’t.
But here’s the thing—I didn’t ghost because she wasn’t enough. I ghosted because I wasn’t enough for myself yet. I had to get my head straight, even if I chose the absolute worst way to do it.

When I came back and she reached out—despite having every reason not to—I was thrilled. But I also knew I had to take it at her pace. She was seeing someone at the time, and I respected that. No cheating, no drama—just me learning that love isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon.

So yes, I ghosted my wife before she was my wife. But the real victory wasn’t in the disappearing act—it was in showing up again, consistently, when it mattered. Turns out, the judges don’t hand out medals for ghosting. They hand out second chances, if you’re lucky enough to earn them.

What Helps:
• Weighted Blanket – for those nights when you need comfort that won’t suddenly disappear.
• Funny Coffee Mug – because sometimes you just need to laugh at your own bad decisions.
• Aromatherapy Diffuser – for turning “ghost town vibes” into “spa night vibes.”

🥉 Event 3: Co-Parenting Cage Match – The First-Grade Finger Painting Finals

Now let’s talk about the event that nearly broke the stadium: co-parenting. Picture two momma bears in the ring, both armed with permission slips, snack calendars, and an Olympic-level ability to glare across a classroom. The stakes? Our first graders—still learning how to read, finger paint, and remember which shoe goes on which foot.

When we first started out, we were not great co-parents. We were both fiercely protective, ready to go to war over who packed the better lunch or who got the “real” say in bedtime routines. Every decision felt like a championship round, even if the prize was just a slightly less lopsided art project taped to the fridge.
We weren’t graceful athletes—more like two competitors who hadn’t read the rulebook. And honestly, sometimes we still slip back into that mode. But the difference now is, we recognize it, laugh about it, and tag each other in instead of trying to knock each other out.

Between the times we dated, we both had a LOT of growing to do. And we did it—messily, imperfectly, but with determination. By the time we found our way back to each other, we weren’t the same competitors anymore. We were teammates.
Now, instead of fighting each other, we fight for each other—and for our kids. That doesn’t mean we don’t still have our momma bear moments (because, let’s be real, claws don’t just disappear). But we’ve learned to channel that energy into building something that actually works.

So no, we didn’t win gold in the Co-Parenting Cage Match. But we did something better—we retired from the event altogether. These days, we’re thriving not as opponents, but as partners. And honestly? That feels like the real podium finish.

What Helps (Affiliate Picks):
• Magnetic Family Calendar – because nothing says “teamwork” like knowing who’s on snack duty.
• Co-Parenting Communication Workbook – practical tools for turning cage matches into conversations.
• Meal Planner Pad – fewer battles, more finger painting.

🏆 Closing Ceremony

The Emotional Olympics are brutal. The events are unfair, the training is grueling, and the medals are mostly invisible. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to keep competing.
Gaslighting, ghosting, co-parenting cage matches—they’re not the events that define us. What defines us is the growth, the resilience, and the choice to show up differently the next time.
So here’s to retiring from the toxic games, and building our own podiums—ones where love, respect, and healthy boundaries take home the gold.

A Real Resource (Affiliate Plug):

“If you’re tired of competing in the Emotional Olympics, maybe it’s time to call in a coach. Online therapy has been a lifeline for so many people, and you can start today with Online-Therapy.com. They even offer a discount for first-time clients.”