Table of Contents
How do I overcome the silent treatment?
How to respond
- Name the situation. Acknowledge that someone is using the silent treatment.
- Use ‘I’ statements.
- Acknowledge the other person’s feelings.
- Apologize for words or actions.
- Cool off and arrange a time to resolve the issue.
- Avoid unhelpful responses.
When is the silent treatment okay?
While sometimes the silent treatment is just a short-term way to cool down, it’s when it’s used as a deliberate strategy to inflict pain and control that it’s a problem. That treatment is never okay to use. In fact, it is unhelpful for anything other than a very brief period.
What does the silent treatment mean in relationships?
In general, the silent treatment is a manipulation tactic that can leave important issues in a relationship unresolved. It also can leave the partner on the receiving end feeling worthless, unloved, hurt, confused, frustrated, angry, and unimportant.
What does silence mean from a man?
Being silent prevents this sense of loss of our masculinity. The male feels he cannot win or might not get heard. We might feel we have less vocabulary, or that we might lose the argument. We might get angry and do something we should not do.
What happens when someone gives you the silent treatment?
If you’re on the receiving end of this kind of treatment, you might feel completely ostracized. People who use the silent treatment as a means of control want to put you in your place. They’ll give you the cold shoulder for days or weeks on end to achieve those goals.
Does the silent treatment work on a narcissist?
A narcissist uses the silent treatment to abuse their victim. This is one of his most preferred methods of harassment. But if you are using the silent treatment back on your partner who is trying to use it as a weapon on you, then silent treatment is actually beneficial to you.
When does the silent treatment cross the line into emotional abuse?
Here are a few signs that suggest the silent treatment is crossing the line into emotional abuse territory: It’s a frequent occurrence and is lasting for longer periods. It’s coming from a place of punishment, not a need to cool off or regroup.
Is silent treatment in a long-distance relationship good or bad?
While some believe that in a long-distance relationship silent treatment is even more detrimental to the mental well-being of the partners but in my view it could have a positive effect if used over a short period. Angry hurtful words and fights over Skype could be worse than silent treatment in a long-term relationship.