Harmful Consequences of Silent Treatment On Your Relationship
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Communication breakdown
Communication between partners is the first one to be impacted by one of the partners adopting the silent treatment. When you avoid talking openly about what really bothers you, you stop yourself and the other person from finding solutions and ways to move forward together.
The silent treatment consists in one partner not talking on purpose, to make the other person feel isolated and unseen. As a consequence, the person receiving the silent treatment will do the same next time you argue, thus creating a toxic cycle that will eventually destroy your relationship.
To prevent communication breakdown, experts recommend having an open dialogue with your significant other, really listening to what they have to say and empathizing with them. If you manage to listen and understand one another, you are on a sure way towards a healthy and thriving relationship.
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Feelings of rejection
The person receiving the silent treatment may start feeling rejected and not good enough for their partner. When you adopt this passive-aggressive tactic, your partner might feel abandoned, unwanted and unimportant. These feelings, in turn, cause other negative emotions such as insecurity, sadness, anxiety and low self-esteem.
In time, the person feeling rejected might even become resentful and angry, causing them to want to distance themselves even more. In the end, all these feelings and emotions will affect the relationship’s foundation.
The best approach to repairing a relationship is addressing these negative feelings, communicating and strengthening your emotional connection instead of destroying it brick by brick.
