What's the idiomatic word for something that keeps you sane/grounded?
There's a word for something, that when remembered--or a person that when spoken to--brings you back to reality and the knowledge that you're not insane. I keep wanting to say "touchstone", but I don't think that's it. "Cornerstone" kind of works (and is probably why "touchstone" comes to mind), but is more about a foundation you build yourself upon, rather than something you come back to.
I think I'm looking for a synonym for reality check. It's also the opposite of something that gaslights you.
single-word-requests expressions idioms nouns
asked 16 hours ago
dfoverdx
1064
|
show 4 more comments
There's a word for something, that when remembered--or a person that when spoken to--brings you back to reality and the knowledge that you're not insane. I keep wanting to say "touchstone", but I don't think that's it. "Cornerstone" kind of works (and is probably why "touchstone" comes to mind), but is more about a foundation you build yourself upon, rather than something you come back to.
I think I'm looking for a synonym for reality check. It's also the opposite of something that gaslights you.
single-word-requests expressions idioms nouns
asked 16 hours ago
dfoverdx
1064
A person or a belief can keep you "grounded". Is that what you are looking for?
– suse
16 hours ago
I'm looking for the idiom that represents that person or belief. Something akin to anchor.
– dfoverdx
16 hours ago
People say, “She/He’s my rock”
– Jim
16 hours ago
Hmm, not quite the word I'm looking for. Rock is something you rely on constantly, something that supports you. I'm thinking of something that you remember when you're experience doubt that reminds you of the truth/of reality with the sense of epiphany.
– dfoverdx
16 hours ago
"Compass" might work, but I don't think it is widely used in the sense you're looking for.
– Sven Yargs
15 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
There's a word for something, that when remembered--or a person that when spoken to--brings you back to reality and the knowledge that you're not insane. I keep wanting to say "touchstone", but I don't think that's it. "Cornerstone" kind of works (and is probably why "touchstone" comes to mind), but is more about a foundation you build yourself upon, rather than something you come back to.
I think I'm looking for a synonym for reality check. It's also the opposite of something that gaslights you.
single-word-requests expressions idioms nouns
asked 16 hours ago
dfoverdx
1064
There's a word for something, that when remembered--or a person that when spoken to--brings you back to reality and the knowledge that you're not insane. I keep wanting to say "touchstone", but I don't think that's it. "Cornerstone" kind of works (and is probably why "touchstone" comes to mind), but is more about a foundation you build yourself upon, rather than something you come back to.
I think I'm looking for a synonym for reality check. It's also the opposite of something that gaslights you.
single-word-requests expressions idioms nouns
single-word-requests expressions idioms nouns
asked 16 hours ago
dfoverdx
1064
asked 16 hours ago
dfoverdx
1064
edited 15 hours ago
asked 16 hours ago
dfoverdx
1064
asked 16 hours ago
dfoverdx
1064
asked 16 hours ago
dfoverdx
1064
1064
A person or a belief can keep you "grounded". Is that what you are looking for?
– suse
16 hours ago
I'm looking for the idiom that represents that person or belief. Something akin to anchor.
– dfoverdx
16 hours ago
People say, “She/He’s my rock”
– Jim
16 hours ago
Hmm, not quite the word I'm looking for. Rock is something you rely on constantly, something that supports you. I'm thinking of something that you remember when you're experience doubt that reminds you of the truth/of reality with the sense of epiphany.
– dfoverdx
16 hours ago
"Compass" might work, but I don't think it is widely used in the sense you're looking for.
– Sven Yargs
15 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
A person or a belief can keep you "grounded". Is that what you are looking for?
– suse
16 hours ago
I'm looking for the idiom that represents that person or belief. Something akin to anchor.
– dfoverdx
16 hours ago
People say, “She/He’s my rock”
– Jim
16 hours ago
Hmm, not quite the word I'm looking for. Rock is something you rely on constantly, something that supports you. I'm thinking of something that you remember when you're experience doubt that reminds you of the truth/of reality with the sense of epiphany.
– dfoverdx
16 hours ago
"Compass" might work, but I don't think it is widely used in the sense you're looking for.
– Sven Yargs
15 hours ago
A person or a belief can keep you "grounded". Is that what you are looking for?
– suse
16 hours ago
A person or a belief can keep you "grounded". Is that what you are looking for?
– suse
16 hours ago
I'm looking for the idiom that represents that person or belief. Something akin to anchor.
– dfoverdx
16 hours ago
I'm looking for the idiom that represents that person or belief. Something akin to anchor.
– dfoverdx
16 hours ago
People say, “She/He’s my rock”
– Jim
16 hours ago
People say, “She/He’s my rock”
– Jim
16 hours ago
Hmm, not quite the word I'm looking for. Rock is something you rely on constantly, something that supports you. I'm thinking of something that you remember when you're experience doubt that reminds you of the truth/of reality with the sense of epiphany.
– dfoverdx
16 hours ago
Hmm, not quite the word I'm looking for. Rock is something you rely on constantly, something that supports you. I'm thinking of something that you remember when you're experience doubt that reminds you of the truth/of reality with the sense of epiphany.
– dfoverdx
16 hours ago
"Compass" might work, but I don't think it is widely used in the sense you're looking for.
– Sven Yargs
15 hours ago
"Compass" might work, but I don't think it is widely used in the sense you're looking for.
– Sven Yargs
15 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
An anchor:
A person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation.
‘the European Community is the economic anchor of the New Europe’
[Oxford]
If you're comfortable with a movie reference, like "Gaslight" itself, I suggest "totem", as used in the movie Inception:
A Totem is an object that is used to test if oneself is in one's own reality (dream or non-dream) and not in another person's dream.
[inception.wikia.com]
answered 15 hours ago
Tushar Raj
18.6k864112
Totem is clever, but not the word I'm looking for. :)
– dfoverdx
4 hours ago
add a comment |
His raison d'être, his family's plight, when remembered brought
him back reality and sanity.
raison d'être. TFD
The fundamental reason for something or someone to exist; the sole or
most important purpose for someone or something.
answered 7 hours ago
lbf
17.7k21864
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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active
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An anchor:
A person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation.
‘the European Community is the economic anchor of the New Europe’
[Oxford]
If you're comfortable with a movie reference, like "Gaslight" itself, I suggest "totem", as used in the movie Inception:
A Totem is an object that is used to test if oneself is in one's own reality (dream or non-dream) and not in another person's dream.
[inception.wikia.com]
answered 15 hours ago
Tushar Raj
18.6k864112
Totem is clever, but not the word I'm looking for. :)
– dfoverdx
4 hours ago
add a comment |
An anchor:
A person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation.
‘the European Community is the economic anchor of the New Europe’
[Oxford]
If you're comfortable with a movie reference, like "Gaslight" itself, I suggest "totem", as used in the movie Inception:
A Totem is an object that is used to test if oneself is in one's own reality (dream or non-dream) and not in another person's dream.
[inception.wikia.com]
answered 15 hours ago
Tushar Raj
18.6k864112
Totem is clever, but not the word I'm looking for. :)
– dfoverdx
4 hours ago
add a comment |
An anchor:
A person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation.
‘the European Community is the economic anchor of the New Europe’
[Oxford]
If you're comfortable with a movie reference, like "Gaslight" itself, I suggest "totem", as used in the movie Inception:
A Totem is an object that is used to test if oneself is in one's own reality (dream or non-dream) and not in another person's dream.
[inception.wikia.com]
answered 15 hours ago
Tushar Raj
18.6k864112
An anchor:
A person or thing that provides stability or confidence in an otherwise uncertain situation.
‘the European Community is the economic anchor of the New Europe’
[Oxford]
If you're comfortable with a movie reference, like "Gaslight" itself, I suggest "totem", as used in the movie Inception:
A Totem is an object that is used to test if oneself is in one's own reality (dream or non-dream) and not in another person's dream.
[inception.wikia.com]
answered 15 hours ago
Tushar Raj
18.6k864112
edited 15 hours ago
answered 15 hours ago
Tushar Raj
18.6k864112
answered 15 hours ago
Tushar Raj
18.6k864112
answered 15 hours ago
Tushar Raj
18.6k864112
18.6k864112
Totem is clever, but not the word I'm looking for. :)
– dfoverdx
4 hours ago
add a comment |
Totem is clever, but not the word I'm looking for. :)
– dfoverdx
4 hours ago
Totem is clever, but not the word I'm looking for. :)
– dfoverdx
4 hours ago
Totem is clever, but not the word I'm looking for. :)
– dfoverdx
4 hours ago
add a comment |
His raison d'être, his family's plight, when remembered brought
him back reality and sanity.
raison d'être. TFD
The fundamental reason for something or someone to exist; the sole or
most important purpose for someone or something.
answered 7 hours ago
lbf
17.7k21864
add a comment |
His raison d'être, his family's plight, when remembered brought
him back reality and sanity.
raison d'être. TFD
The fundamental reason for something or someone to exist; the sole or
most important purpose for someone or something.
answered 7 hours ago
lbf
17.7k21864
add a comment |
His raison d'être, his family's plight, when remembered brought
him back reality and sanity.
raison d'être. TFD
The fundamental reason for something or someone to exist; the sole or
most important purpose for someone or something.
answered 7 hours ago
lbf
17.7k21864
His raison d'être, his family's plight, when remembered brought
him back reality and sanity.
raison d'être. TFD
The fundamental reason for something or someone to exist; the sole or
most important purpose for someone or something.
answered 7 hours ago
lbf
17.7k21864
answered 7 hours ago
lbf
17.7k21864
answered 7 hours ago
lbf
17.7k21864
answered 7 hours ago
lbf
17.7k21864
17.7k21864
add a comment |
add a comment |
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A person or a belief can keep you "grounded". Is that what you are looking for?
– suse
16 hours ago
I'm looking for the idiom that represents that person or belief. Something akin to anchor.
– dfoverdx
16 hours ago
People say, “She/He’s my rock”
– Jim
16 hours ago
Hmm, not quite the word I'm looking for. Rock is something you rely on constantly, something that supports you. I'm thinking of something that you remember when you're experience doubt that reminds you of the truth/of reality with the sense of epiphany.
– dfoverdx
16 hours ago
"Compass" might work, but I don't think it is widely used in the sense you're looking for.
– Sven Yargs
15 hours ago