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Long-term resentment
Another important consequence of silent treatment is long-term resentment. Even if you’re closing yourself to dialogue, this doesn’t mean there won’t still be issues left open for discussion. It will only make unaddressed matters accumulate and turn into even bigger problems than they really were in the beginning.
The partner receiving the silent treatment will feel dismissed, unimportant and unjustly isolated. As unsolved feelings and emotions accumulate, the partner subjected to the silent treatment will grow even more resentful and frustrated for not being listened and understood. The relationship’s foundation will soon start to crack and from there on it will only be a matter of time before the couple bids their farewells.
This cycle of negativity and resentment can be broken if the partners don’t withhold communication. Discussing the problems arising in a relationship and addressing them together, as a team, will prevent feelings of frustration, isolation, and growing resentment. A positive approach will help the struggling couple to build a deeper connection and strengthen their relationship.
