Silent Treatment

 

I am very familiar with the silent treatment.  In fact, I just went through one last week.  It was short-lived; from Thursday to Saturday.  However, I have been through silent treatments that have lasted weeks. My spouse and I barely talk normally, but when he won't even answer a question regarding our son, I know I am being given the silent treatment. I'm not exactly sure why I was ignored this most recent time.  I can only speculate about possible reasons.  Something didn't go his way, that was actually out of my hands and I had no control over, but yet my spouse still felt the need to punish me for it.  If something happens that is not what he wanted, but is what I wanted, then I am likely to get punished just due to that fact.  He may even delude himself into thinking that I created the outcome somehow.  Narcissists are immature emotionally and vindictive.  Over minor things, little children cross their arms, pout, and say, "I'm not talking to you anymore!"  Immature, mean pre-teens treat a person they've deemed to be an outcast as if they are invisible when around them.  Mature, emotionally stable, responsible adults do not play the silent treatment game.  The game is extremely hurtful and can be very dangerous.  While they are ignoring someone, often for no reason at all, they could be allowing events to unfold that could lead to disastrous consequences. Do you experience the silent treatment? Please leave a comment about it. Read about it in the fourth Issue of Little Narc E-zine!