The Silent Treatment Archives - The Overwhelmed Brain

We’ve all done it.

At one time or another, you’ve emotionally withdrawn from someone who set off some sort of emotional trigger in you.

The Silent Treatment is a protection mechanism that kicks in when you feel hurt, unsafe or triggered in some way. When someone does or says something that betrays your values, morals, or beliefs, you may withdraw and put on your “emotional armor”. Some information may be so hard to accept or understand that you just want to slip back into your shell so that you can process it and figure out what to do next.

(after you read this article, be sure to tune into the Love and Abuse podcast for more on the silent treatment and other behaviors that are difficult to deal with in your relationships)
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1:21:32

The Silent Treatment – The Drawbacks of Non-Confrontational Behavior – Permission to Hate

Episode Content:

The silent treatment is like an acid that disintegrates trust and love because of the withdrawal of emotions (emotional withdrawal). I can’t trust you with my emotions because when you withdraw, I feel betrayed and abandoned.

I also talk about the drawbacks of non-confrontational behavior and how choosing not to confront disintegrates love and bonding. When you choose to be non-confrontational, it’s like telling the other person “I don’t want to tell you the whole truth”.

And what about hate? Are you allowed to feel hate? Should you? I think it’s important to acknowledge and accept every part of you and every thought instead of resisting your thoughts. Otherwise, you go around holding on to a lot of negativity which you eventually unleash on those you love.

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