Treatment FAQ

why is the silent treatment so damaging

by Wilmer Haley Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

The silent treatment is a particularly insidious form of abuse because it might force the victim to reconcile with the perpetrator in an effort to end the behavior, even if the victim doesn't know why they're apologizing. “It's especially controlling because it deprives both sides from weighing in,” Williams said.Mar 26, 2021

What does the silent treatment do to someone?

Using the silent treatment prevents people from resolving their conflicts in a helpful way. When one partner wants to talk about a problem but the other withdraws, it can cause negative emotions such as anger and distress.Jun 8, 2020

Why does the silent treatment hurt so much?

The Silent Treatment is Physically Painful Research has shown that the act of ignoring or excluding a person activates the same area of the brain that is activated by physical pain. The silent treatment, even if it's brief, activates the anterior cingulate cortex — the part of the brain that detects physical pain.Nov 5, 2019

What does silent treatment do to a man?

2. What does the silent treatment do to someone? If someone has committed a mistake, the silent treatment helps them take a step back and process the situation. It allows them time to reflect and think about the actions that they have committed.Nov 27, 2021

What type of person gives the silent treatment?

Research. Researchers have found that the silent treatment is used by both men and women to terminate a partner's behaviors or words rather than to elicit them. 1 In abusive relationships, the silent treatment is used to manipulate the other person and to establish power over them.Jun 1, 2020

Why is silence the best revenge?

Silence speaks volumes Believe it, the silence and zero reaction really bothers your ex, and they consider it as the best served revenge. Nothing creates more curiosity than silence. Your ex would expect a vent or an angry rant from you, but don't give in. If you do, you are meeting their expectations.Sep 9, 2019

Does silent treatment mean break up?

The silent treatment is a particularly toxic form of behavior that can lead to the breakdown of relationships. When a partner gives you the silent treatment, you might feel a crazy need to make him talk.

Is giving the silent treatment immature?

At best the silent treatment isan immature behavior used by spoiled brats and manipulativeindividuals. At worst, it is a weapon used by abusers to punish their victims.Jul 11, 2016

Does silence hurt a man?

Findings from his in-depth analysis revealed that the silent treatment is 'tremendously' damaging to a relationship. It decreases relationship satisfaction for both partners, diminishes feelings of intimacy, and reduces the capacity to communicate in a way that's healthy and meaningful.

What happens when you give someone the silent treatment?

When you give someone the silent treatment, you are showing them that they are insignificant, unworthy and unlovable. It can greatly deplete their self-esteem, leaving serious consequences. It can cause physical issues as well. When you are ignored, a part of your brain responsible for detecting pain will activate, telling you that you’re, in fact, ...

How does silence affect a relationship?

A healthy relationship should be based on honest and open communication. While a certain number of emotional intimacy issues and aversion to vulnerability are normal for most people, if your partner ignores you constantly and makes you beg for their attention, your relationship may be quite unhealthy. Here’s are some more ways in which the silent treatment can affect relationships: 1 It leaves no room for healthy communication. 2 It enables your partner to control you. 3 It makes you feel dependent on your partner. 4 It makes it hard for you to love yourself . 5 It can make you resent your partner deeply. 6 It can make you fear love after the relationship is over .

Why do people ignore their feelings?

Often, people choose to ignore because they don’t know how to express their feelings properly.

What happens when you are ignored?

A person who is ignored feels a wide range of confusing emotions. They may feel anger, sadness, frustration, guilt, despair, and loneliness, all at once. Naturally, such emotional confusion can have a damaging effect on your psyche. It can decrease your sense of self-worth.

Is silent treatment a form of abuse?

However, when ignoring is used, or to be more precise, abused in order to manipulate another person, it can definitely qualify as abuse.

Is it healthy to be in a relationship?

While a certain number of emotional intimacy issues and aversion to vulnerability are normal for most people, if your partner ignores you constantly and makes you beg for their attention, your relationship may be quite unhealthy.

Is a relationship perfect?

No relationship is perfect, that much is true. While some relationship problems, such as lacking emotional intimacy and emotional suffocation, don’t necessarily have a malicious aspect and can be resolved through effective emotional intimacy coaching, ignoring, when used as a form of control, is a serious red flag.

Who said "Excluding and ignoring people"?

Kipling Williams, a Professor of Psychology at Purdue University says: “ Excluding and ignoring people, such as giving them the cold shoulder or silent treatment, are used to punish or manipulate, and people may not realize the emotional or physical harm that is being done. ”

Who is Janey Davies?

Janey Davies is a professional writer who has been published online for over 10 years. She has an Honours Degree in Psychology from the Open University and her passions include learning about the mind, popular science, and politics. When she is relaxing, she likes to walk her dog, read science fiction, and listen to Muse.

Do couples go to sleep during an argument?

Some couples never go to sleep on an argument, others have a chat in the mornings over breakfast. To ensure you don’t fall into the demand/withdraw pattern again, set your own rules for communicating.

Why do people use silent treatment?

This is for several reasons: It gives the abuser control over the victim; It silences the victim’s voice; It puts the victim’s life on hold while the abuser decides when the silent treatment should end;

What is silent treatment?

Silent treatment abuse is a passive aggressive method of gaining control and having your own way. Realise that you are worthy of a conversation, you do not have to put up with childish behaviour and if the abuser does not start communicating, then walk away. References: http://www.goodtherapy.org. http://www.lifehack.org.

What happens if you don't talk to your significant other?

Not being spoken to by a significant other is distressing and can cause a range overwhelming emotions that include depression, stress, worry, frustration and even anger. Dismissing someone’s right to a conversation is demeaning and can leave the victim with a sense of worthlessness and devalue them.

Which part of the brain is responsible for pain?

In our brains, there is an area known as the anterior cingulate cortex, which is responsible for processing different levels of pain. It is activated when a person is receiving silent treatment and the brain processes this as actual pain in the body.

Who is Janey Davies?

Sub-editor & staff writer at Learning Mind. Janey Davies has been published online for over 10 years. She has suffered from a panic disorder for over 30 years, which prompted her to study and receive an Honours degree in Psychology with the Open University.

Why do people change their behaviour when they are silent?

People who are receiving silent treatment often have been worn down over the years by the abuser and this leads to them changing their behaviour in order to avoid being ignored. The problem, however, is not with the victim, and typically, there is nothing they can do as the abuser is unreasonable when doling out the silent treatment.

Can silent treatment abuse be ignored?

A victim of the silent treatment abuse will usually only put up with being ignored for a certain amount of time. If they are lucky to have good friends around them that they can talk to and see that this behaviour is unreasonable, then they will have a good chance of getting out of the relationship.

What is silent treatment?

The silent treatment is often thought of as a harmless way of punishing a disobedient child by parents. In several families, parents believe the silent treatment is one of the best ways of punishing their children. But as said by the psychotherapist Richard Zwolinski, “The silent treatment is an abusive method of control, punishment, avoidance, ...

What is the silent treatment for narcissism?

Most of the time, the silent tactic works, “Often, the result of the silent treatment is exactly what the person with narcissism wishes to create: a reaction from the target and a sense of control”. More importantly, the victim ends up stuck to the ground, insecure and fearing their own actions.The silent treatment is associated with anxiety ...

What is silent treatment?

The silent treatment is a way to inflict pain without visible bruising – literally. Research has shown that the act of ignoring or excluding activates the same area of the brain that is activated by physical pain.

Why is it so hard to break a pattern?

It’s an incredibly hard pattern to break because both partners lay the blame at the feet of the other. ‘Partners get locked in this pattern, largely because they each see the other as the cause,’ explains Schrodt. ‘Both partners see the other as the problem.’.

image
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