I'm the younger partner in an age gap relationship (23 & 35) and the way people infantilize me makes me want to perform mortal kombat finishers istg. Our relationship is happy and healthy and if the only thing to change was the age numbers people would be more than happy for me. But instead they insist my partner is a predator and my brain is not developed enough to comprehend my situation. I don't think they realize that what they are doing is telling me that I cannot trust my own mind. That is textbook definition of gaslighting, yet they think they're protecting me. By telling me that my understanding of reality doesn't exist. I can't defend myself because they have already decided that disagreeing with them is invalid. They insist that they are only attacking my partner and are sympathetic to me, but when I say that their behavior hurts me too they dismiss it. I don't want to be isolated, but there is quite literally no one I can trust to take me seriously if I really need it.