You’ve probably given someone the silent treatment once or twice (or maybe even more than that). You know the drill — you and your partner get into a heated argument that ends with hurt feelings and no resolution. Then it turns into a few hours, or even a day or two, of not talking.
It’s not a great move, but it can be a natural reaction after a disagreement. You may be afraid to share how you really feel about a tough situation, said Dan Suffoletta , a licensed mental health counselor at Self Space Therapy in Washington. Or it could be a response that’s ingrained in you after watching your parents give each other (or you or your siblings) the silent treatment, said Aparna Sagaram , a licensed marriage and family therapist and owner of Space to Reflect in Philadelphia.
There are lots of reasons why people do it, and therapists have lots of thoughts on this passive-aggressive behavior. Here’s what they say: First, the silent treatment is not the same as taking space from someone, cutting someone off or emotionally shutting down. “The silent treatment, I would say, is basically deciding that you’re not going to talk to someone, but you’re not telling them that you’re not talking to them,” Sagaram said.
“I think that’s the key difference between the silent treatment versus the concept of taking space — when you take space, you’re letting this person know I need some time away from you ...
you communicate that you need space.” Setting a boundary wher.
