The Silent Treatment

The Silent Treatment is a passive aggressive control tactic used by narcissistic abusers to emotionally bully victims into submission. This control tactic is often easily deniable and made to seem like the perpetrator wants space but in reality, there is a purpose to the silence. Is it enacted to make victims feel they are wrong and looking within to figure out what they did wrong to deserve to be treated this way. Victims of the silent treatment are looking to find where they stand in the relationship and due to the lack of communication are left begging to get their way back in. This plays into the abuse tactic as the abuser is enjoying being chased and uses this as a form of narcissistic supply. Victims of the abuse tactic will feel invisible and that they are in constant no-mans-land. There will be an overwhelming sadness and loneliness which cannot be pinpointed to the cause. If you find yourself in a relationship with a narcissistic abuser who is using the silent treatment do what you can to remove yourself. In addition, it is vital to trust your gut and never let the silence be an indication of personal value. In addition, it is vital to find others who can be a witness to validate the abuse as well as a life coach or therapist who can help heal.