My ex started to gaslight once he stopped drinking.
My ex before him was an addict and he never gaslighted.
I think it's not exclusive to addicts, I think it's a tactic used by people with a weak spirt and ego who cannot even fathom they are wrong.
My ex would yell at me, then I would ask why he's yelling and he would say he wasn't and that I was yelling.
We once apologized after a bad fight and he says I never did
He would tell me I was mistrusting because of my past and not because of what he did to me.
He said I need to stop my snooping (which I only started to do 2 yrs ago)and then I would asked why he snooped (he did it from year one) he said he never did. But yet he would check my pc often, came in my home when I wasn't hear and read my journal.
Did a few drive by's etc. And denied it, then admitted it, then denied it
Trying to have a disagreement with him was like running is a circle and when he knew he was wrong, he would say "You just hate when I disagree with you"
It's NEVER EVER their fault!
Are they evil, forgetful, intentially trying to make us crazy? I think none of the above, I think liars just have a deep DEEEPPPPPPPPPP seated fear of being found out so ego acts out at all costs.
It's nothing personal, they do it to everyone ;-)
It's a mental illness I would guess