Silent Treatment

The silent treatment is a form of emotional abuse whereby one individual ignores or refuses to communicate with another. It is a passive aggressive and underhanded form of manipulation.

The silent treatment is essentially a form of ghosting consisting of abruptly halting all means of communication without explanation. It’s often used by narcissists and other abusers as a means of punishing, controlling, and demeaning another. By cutting off communication, the abuser lets the victim know they’re unworthy of respect and reciprocity. It’s a subtle and brutal means of asserting dominance and control. By withholding all attention and validation, the abuser avoids accountability and plays upon the victim’s fears of abandonment and rejection. The victim is left reeling, desperate to regain the connection that’s been acutely severed. They feel anxious, insecure, depressed, needy, and in despair.

The silent treatment is cruel, degrading, manipulative, and damaging. If you’re being subjected to this inhumane treatment, you need to recognize that you didn’t ask for such abuse. You may need professional support to help you institute appropriate boundaries and to help you determine whether this relationship is more constructive or destructive to you and your well-being.