Treatment FAQ

how to outsmart a narcissist silent treatment

by Christian Turcotte Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

How to beat the narcissistic silent treatment is to, first off, let the other party understand that it’s an immature and toxic act. Some people are used to having their way that they’d not hesitate to use the silent treatment to manipulate you into doing their bidding. Make them understand that it’s an unhealthy way to handle things.

You've changed your behavior to avoid getting the silent treatment.
  1. Take a gentle approach: Make it about them. ...
  2. Or, make it about you. ...
  3. Ignore it until it blows over. ...
  4. Offer solutions. ...
  5. Stand up for yourself.
Apr 30, 2019

Full Answer

What happens when you give a narcissist the silent treatment?

Narcissist Silent Treatment Conclusion. The narcissist silent treatment is a form of emotional abuse where one person in the relationship ignores the other with no explanation for an extended period of time (days, weeks, months). The purpose of this is to punish or manipulate their significant other into acting differently.

Why do narcissists give you the silent treatment?

Apr 06, 2022 · You don’t have to take it lying down, and there are ways you can beat the narcissist’s silent treatment. If you’re staying in the relationship because you have no choice, you can play the game. In order to do this, make sure you take care of yourself and that you don’t allow yourself to become overly isolated.

How to shut down the narcissist during the silent treatment?

May 09, 2019 · To outsmart a narcissist, the first step is to become very aware of the trap they’ve put you in. When you’re with a narcissist, you’re typically in limbo where either you leave and then they draw you back in once again, or they give you a silent treatment or discard you, leaving you baffled over what has just taken place.

How to respond when someone gives you the silent treatment?

Apr 15, 2022 · The very best way to outsmart a narcissist is to heal yourself. … Take precautions to reduce narcissistic supply. … Don’t react and go ‘no contact’ … Use the ‘grey rock method’ if you can’t do no contact. … Agree with them. … Keep your cards close to your chest. How does a narcissist react when they can’t control you?

image

How do you respond to a narcissist silent treatment?

How to respondName 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.Jun 8, 2020

How do you get a narcissist to stop giving you the silent treatment?

26:5729:245 Ways to Disarm the Narcissist During the Narcissistic Silent ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis fast-moving train because I loved her so much and it was a very long friendship. But at the endMoreThis fast-moving train because I loved her so much and it was a very long friendship. But at the end of the day I had to realize that she was shutting the door. And I was getting the silent treatment

Why do narcissists give you silent treatment?

The Purpose of the Silent Treatment Essentially, the point of the silent treatment is to make the victim feel confused, stressed, guilty, ashamed, not good enough, or unstable enough so that they would do what the manipulator wants.Mar 12, 2020

What does a narcissist do during silent treatment?

The narcissist's goal with the silent treatment is to get you to think you are in the wrong, apologize, and then all blame is on you. They have effectively created a scenario where you have taken the blame while they sit back and wait for you to come to them.Nov 19, 2020

How do you emotionally detach from a narcissist?

How to DisengageStop all communication – take a break from social media, do not answer your phone or text messages from the narcissist. ... Have a plan – know when you are going to leave and where you are going to go. ... Find support – work with a therapist or counselor experienced in supporting people leaving narcissists.More items...•Feb 1, 2021

How do you neutralize a narcissist?

4 Tricks to Neutralize NarcissistsLeverage the fact that narcissists like to be associated with higher status people. ... Recognize that narcissists are generally not good team players since there are few people whom they consider their equals. ... Stick to the rules. ... Protect your other reports.Jun 10, 2011

What drives a narcissist insane?

The thing that drives a narcissist crazy is the lack of control and the lack of a fight. The less you fight back, the less power you can give them over you, the better,” she says. And because they never think they're wrong, they never apologize. About anything.Jan 30, 2019

What happens when you start ignoring a narcissist?

If you ignore a narcissist and deny them their source, they may become enraged and try even harder for your attention – especially in ways that can be toxic or abusive. Ignoring a narcissist will enrage them because of their fragile egos. They'll feel humiliated and lash out against you to protect themselves.May 19, 2021

How do you make a narcissist miserable?

14 Ways to Make a Narcissist Miserable:Lack of Attention.Doing something they don't like.Losing.Logic and Facts.Boundaries.Critical Thinking.Spontaneous Behavior.Someone else's Success.More items...•Oct 15, 2020

How do you manipulate a narcissist?

1:1018:1510 Ways to Manipulate a Narcissist | (Keeping the Peace with a Narcissist)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHas power over them and is manipulating them another group that sometimes manifests theseMoreHas power over them and is manipulating them another group that sometimes manifests these manipulative behaviors would be victims of the narcissist. So sometimes they try to manipulate the narcissist.

How does a narcissist react when they can't control you?

Narcissists also gaslight or practice master manipulation, weakening and destabilizing their victims; finally, they utilize positive and negative emotions or moments to trick others. When a narcissist can't control you, they'll likely feel threatened, react with anger, and they might even start threatening you.Dec 26, 2021

How can the silent treatment backfire?

If done in a friendly, gentle manner,these gestures sends the message that you aren't taking them so seriously and it gives them permission to back down and not take themselves so seriously. If your colleague or boss has no sense of humor, or is truly a narcissist, this will backfire, so be careful!Nov 18, 2014

How to understand a narcissist's silent treatment?

Understanding the Narcissist’s Silent Treatment. The first thing you have to do is to educate yourself about the situation. I always say that knowledge is power , and the first fact you need to know about this issue is exactly why narcissists give you the silent treatment in the first place.

What is the silent treatment of a narcissist?

What is the narcissist’s silent treatment? Just to be clear, the silent treatment is a manipulation tactic where a toxic narcissist will stop talking to you for days, hours, weeks or even months in order to punish you for some perceived slight.

Does silent therapy work for narcissists?

Plus, the silent treatment works particularly well on sensitive, empathic people (who are often quite attractive to narcissists ), because we are wired to respond to and attempt to soothe the emotions of the people around us, especially those we love.

Do narcissists want you to bend over backwards?

But the truth is that this is exactly what the narcissist wants – for you to bend over backward trying to appease them. All the while, the narcissist has no intention of allowing that to happen – they will only stop using the silent treatment when it is convenient for them or they want or need something from you.

How to stop narcissistic behavior?

When you start to do these things, you are doing is the following: 1 Making yourself such a nuisance to the narcissist that they will stay gone for longer periods of time, giving yourself time to reduce or eliminate your chemical addiction to the relationship. 2 Making yourself so uncomfortable with this pattern consciously that it is more uncomfortable for you to be in the relationship that any comfort they can offer you by their presence when they are there cannot overcome the anxiety and discomfort you feel by the relationship overall.

Why do we need to be able to outsmart a narcissist?

We need to be able to outsmart the narcissist in order to ever break out of this pattern that keeps us locked in invisible chains that weaken our ability to ever leave at all. There is a reason you feel inexplicably tied to them. It is clearly a relationship, although it is like no other you have ever experienced.

Why do narcissists split people into good and bad?

Because narcissists split people into “good” and “bad” they are constantly fluctuating between feeling victimized and feeling emboldened by what other people do. They do not take into account the effect of their own actions because they feel entitled to do whatever they want to do to get their own needs met.

How long does it take for a narcissist to return?

Often they then return after a period of days or weeks to tell you that they can’t live without you.

What to do if someone discards you?

If they discard you or give you a silent treatment because you’re not putting up with their abuse or giving them the reaction they need to feel validated, be mindful of what that tells you. If he or she loves you so much, wouldn’t they want you to feel respected and wouldn’t they want to be with you?

Is it easy to make one small change?

It isn’t easy, but the good news is that any choice to make one small change in what you do, in how you react or process what is happening, or even challenge how you think about what is happening makes it easier to make other changes. When you start to do these things, you are doing is the following:

Can a narcissist repeat the pattern they started with you?

Sometimes the pattern will look something like this: The difference between you and your narcissist partner is that the narcissist is doom ed to repeat the pattern they started with you.

What happens when a narcissist discards you?

When the narcissist seemingly discards you, it’s usually all smoke and mirrors to trigger your abandonment wounds so that you will accept their awful behaviors and eventually give them their way just to keep them in your life.

What is the bad thing about being a narcissist?

The bad side of staying in a relationship with a narcissist is that it keeps you stuck in a hopeless situation. Holding onto hope that the narcissist in your life will change is a pipe dream that leads to a wasted life. The idea can be likened to the legends of Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster.

Can you show someone you have NPD?

No, with people with npd, you want to show them that they are not right in any way, shape, or form. When they finally reach out after giving you the silent treatment, make sure they are met with complete indifference and silence as they begin to recognize that their game didn’t work this time.

Can you use silent treatment against someone?

Normal people may need some time alone to think and reset, but they will never, ever use the silent treatment as a form of punishment against you. Someone who cares about you will come back and want to have a two-way conversation about how to make things work between you.

What is the silent treatment used by narcissists?

A very common form of manipulation used by narcissists is the silent treatment. When a narcissist uses the silent treatment, it can be a very draining and painful experience. It’s passive-aggressive and it can be very frustrating and result in a lot of stress and anxiety.

What is the difference between silent treatment and narcissistic treatment?

The difference with a narcissist using the silent treatment is that a narcissist will not be able to speak about it afterwards, they will not take any responsibility, or admit they were hurt and used the silent treatment because of that.

What does it mean when someone uses silent treatment?

Now, using the silent treatment doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is a narcissist or a toxic person . It can also be a sign of someone emotionally immature. A normal person, however, will let you know if they need some time to gather thoughts and tell you they will get back to you.

Why do we use silent treatment?

Another important reason to use the silent treatment is avoiding responsibility. It could be a response to you wanting to speak about their behaviour or your relationship. Silent treatment basically is avoidance. It’s avoiding responsibility, blame, and projecting upon others by playing the victim.

How to deal with a narcissist?

When dealing with a narcissist, you have to trust your intuition. It can be very hard to recognize you are not the one to blame, mostly because of earlier emotional abuse or experiences. Now, you can’t change their unhealthy behaviour and you’re not responsible for the behaviour of others.

Is silent treatment painful?

When having to deal with the silent treatment, it can be a very draining and painful experience. It’s manipulative behaviour and a very unhealthy form of communication. From experience, I know how challenging it is to deal with narcissists and their manipulative behaviour. It’s essential to learn to protect yourself and your energy.

Do narcissists care about others?

Now, a narcissist doesn’t care about the feelings of others and might even like to play these manipulative games. A narcissist has a lack of empathy and seeks for narcissistic supply, which could be a search for ego-boosting, appreciation, drama, or control.

What is the silent treatment?

The silent treatment is the no1 weapon used by narcissists during which the narcissist acts as if you are non-existent and even refuses to communicate, even if you tried doing so. So, what happens when this silent-treatment is reversed?

What happens if you continue the silent treatment?

If you still continue the silent treatment, the narcissist may finally abandon you and move on with new narcissistic supply and new victims.

How long does it take for a narcissist to come back to you?

Unable to feel being ignored, his inflated ego starts hitting him harder and harder. So, after giving silent treatment for a few weeks , the narcissist will likely come back to you. He may start chasing you so that he can get back his narcissistic supply like before.

Why does a narcissist block you?

The Narcissist may even block you on all his social media accounts and try to act extra friendlier with others, so that he can get more eyeballs from you. His routine bragging and show-off start to begin, just to show you that he is the most valuable person and prove that you are missing a great treasure ignoring him.

Do narcissists beg you?

While some narcissists may beg and request you while some others may shout and begin a fight with you. The hurt ego of the narcissist makes him vulnerable and pushes him to do weird things just ...

Can a narcissist demean you?

In fact, it is not uncommon for a narcissist to demean you or abuse you in front of others and even at the back of you. Also, the narcissist may replace you with another person, just to trigger emotions of jealousy in you. As more and more days pass by, more signs will start to appear. All with the motive to grab your attention at any cost.

Can a narcissist live without talking to you?

The narcissist may even believe that you can’t live without talking to the narcissist. So, when days start to pass by and if you still continue to give the silent treatment to the narcissist, the actual drama start to begin..

image

Causes

Image
Narcissism is a personality disorder that stems from a persons psyche. Narcissism cannot be imbibed or induced. It is self developed. There are many reasons why a person may grow up to become a narcissist, in which dysfunctional families and several psychological factors play an integral role. When a narcissist feels that hi…
See more on healthresearchfunding.org

Introduction

  • Being in a relationship with a narcissist can be very challenging and often unrewarding. Psychologists claim that a romantic relationship with a narcissist is actually based on a lie. A narcissist is a self absorbed person and he or she is incapable of loving someone truly because they are actually in love with their own selves. There is nothing and no one more important than …
See more on healthresearchfunding.org

Characteristics

  • A narcissist has several tactics which he or she uses to control the person they are in a relationship with and they also invest their strategies to control the relationship itself. A narcissist is incapable of allowing himself or herself to go on a freewheeling ride where things are not under their control but that of lifes circumstances, which are a consequence of both people involved a…
See more on healthresearchfunding.org

Mechanism

  • The silent treatment of a narcissist is almost like a self defense mechanism. When they are threatened, according to their psyche, to a compromise or a situation that they dont want to be in, they will play their cards and want the other person to retrace their steps.
See more on healthresearchfunding.org

Effects

  • The silent treatment is pretty similar to a bad breakup. The narcissist will stop talking to the person, will not take their calls, not respond to the texts and if one is living in with the narcissist then there would be a cold shoulder at all times. There will be no confrontation, no emotional engagement or physical intimacy and the narcissist will actually behave in a manner that the oth…
See more on healthresearchfunding.org

Treatment

  • The narcissistic silent treatment is very difficult to bear, especially in relationships that are relatively old or have progressed through the initial phases of dating. Unfortunately, it is difficult to counter the silent treatment without opting for intervention for the narcissist in the first place. If the problem is not cured at the root then the symptom of the silent treatment cannot be done a…
See more on healthresearchfunding.org

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9