{"id":602,"date":"2023-06-13T05:49:18","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T05:49:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.counsellorshivanisadhoo.com\/blog\/?p=602"},"modified":"2023-06-13T05:50:13","modified_gmt":"2023-06-13T05:50:13","slug":"stonewalling-silent-treatment-relationsihp-advices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.counsellorshivanisadhoo.com\/blog\/2023\/06\/13\/stonewalling-silent-treatment-relationsihp-advices\/","title":{"rendered":"Stonewalling vs The Silent Treatment: Are They the Same or Different?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Explains Leading Couples Therapist Shivani Sadhoo<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the sphere of interpersonal communication, conflicts, and disagreements are bound to happen. When faced with such situations, individuals or couples might resort to various coping mechanisms to protect themselves or express their emotions. Two commonly observed behaviours in conflicts are stonewalling and silent treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While they might appear similar at first glance, there are vital distinctions between these two approaches. This article from Delhi\u2019s leading marriage counsellor Shivani Misri Sadhoo <\/a><\/strong>aims to shed light on the differences between stonewalling and silent treatment, highlighting their effect on relationships and offering suggestions for healthier communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shivani says, stonewalling refers to a defensive communication strategy where one partner becomes unresponsive and emotionally withdrawn during a conflict. It is mainly characterized by shutting down and refusing to engage in meaningful conversation. When a person stonewalls, they might avoid eye contact, provide short or monosyllabic responses, or physically stay away from the other person. The intention behind stonewalling is mostly to protect oneself from emotional distress or further escalation of the conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other side, the silent treatment involves intentionally, ignoring or wilfully withholding communication as a kind of punishment or control. It is passive-aggressive behaviour intended to make the other partner feel excluded, rejected, or insignificant. Contrary to stonewalling, silent treatment is a conscious decision to ignore the other partner, mostly accompanied by a sense of superiority or power over them. It could be an incredibly hurtful experience for the recipient, as it leaves the person feeling isolated and frustrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though both stonewalling and silent treatment involve a lack of communication, the underlying motivations and dynamics vary significantly. Stonewalling is mostly driven by a desire to self-protect and avoid conflict, whereas silent treatment is deeply rooted in manipulation, control, and punishment. Stonewalling individuals might feel overwhelmed by the intensity of the situation and opt to withdraw as a means of self-preservation. In contrast, those who use the silent treatment actively seek to exert power over their partner and gain control in the relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The effect of stonewalling and silent treatment on relationships might be profound. Both behaviours stop healthy communication and prevent conflict resolution. Stonewalling could lead to a breakdown in emotional connection and trust between individuals. It makes a sense of emotional distance and disengagement, leaving the other partner feeling unheard and invalidated. Over time, repeated incidents of stonewalling will erode the foundation of a relationship, leading to resentment and further communication hardships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, the silent treatment might be extremely damaging. It inflicts emotional pain on the recipient, creating feelings of rejection, worthlessness, and confusion. The lack of communication leaves the other partner guessing and desperately seeking a resolution, mostly resulting in heightened anxiety and tension. The silent treatment may foster a toxic dynamic where one person holds power over the other, leading to an unhealthy imbalance in the relationship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Leading marriage counsellor Shivani Misri Sadhoo shares the differences between stonewalling and silent treatment in relationships and suggestions for healthier communication.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[30,54,47],"tags":[20,18,21,113,55,16,86,58,49],"class_list":["post-602","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-best-relationship-counselor","category-relationship-advices-blog","category-relationship-counsellor-blog","tag-best-couples-therapist-in-delhi","tag-best-marriage-counselor-in-delhi","tag-best-relationship-counselor-in-delhi","tag-relationship-advice-blog-by-marriage-counselor-shivani","tag-relationship-advices-blog","tag-relationship-counseling-in-delhi","tag-relationship-counsellor-shivani-misri-sadhoo","tag-relationship-counselor-shivani-misri-sadhoo","tag-relationship-tips-and-articles"],"blocksy_meta":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t