The silent treatment is a form of emotional abuse because:
- It gives the abuser full control over all communication. This means that if you have concerns about their behaviour or your own happiness - they get to decide when and if you ever talk about it. The ball always stays in their court, and anything they don’t want to hear simply won’t be heard. It is impossible to confront them, question their behaviour, or seek any emotional stability in the relationship. Having no stability in communication is classic to abusive relationships.
- You feel unwanted, disposable, and unimportant to your partners life. If they can ignore me for weeks, do I really mean anything to them? Your value and importance should never be second guessed in a relationship. If you have to ask if your partner cares about you, its time to ask think about why you have to ask that question.
- It makes the abuser feel in power, and dominant over the relationship. They feel desired, in control, and important during the silent treatment when the victim tries to reaches out. Often given no response, and continuing to ignore their partner, they know that you are worried, insecure, and unhappy. Simply because they aren’t talking to you. That is a strong feeling to a narcissist.
