What is the Silent Treatment?
In order to stop the silent treatment, we must understand what exactly it is. Google defines the silent treatment as "a stubborn refusal to talk to someone, esp. after a recent argument or disagreement." Thefreedictionary.com defines this a bit further saying it is "maintenance of aloof silence toward another as an expression of one's anger or disapproval." Merriam-Webster furthers the definition by including completely ignoring someone: "An act of completely ignoring a person or thing by resort to silence especially as a means of expressing contempt or disapproval."
I would like to add my own definition as this:
The silent treatment is anytime someone intentionally withdraws verbal, visual, or physical communication from someone else in order to show their anger, disappointment, or displeasure.
The truth is, the silent treatment can be administered and interpreted many different ways depending on who is giving it and who is being hurt by it. Someone might be giving the silent treatment without actually knowing it. Usually, the person giving the silent treatment does not understand the pain they are causing the person they are shutting out or the negative effects it has on their relationship. There may even be times that the person receiving the silent treatment is not aware of what is going on.
No matter the cause, or extremity of the silent treatment given, it is a from of abuse. It is behavior that should be eliminated from healthy relationships. Creating this website is a way for me to understand and cope with the silent treatment. It is my hope that this website can also bring hope and comfort to others who have had to suffer from the negative effects of the silent treatment.
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