If you have been subjected to silent treatment or even ghosting, you know how lonely it can make you feel. And if you have inflicted it on someone, you have felt that sense of power over the other person. Neither is a healthy situation or feeling. People believe that when they get angry with someone, instead of abusing them verbally or physically, they are taking the high-road by giving them the silent treatment, but that can’t be further away from the truth. Silent treatment is as abusive as throwing cuss words at someone or slapping them in the face, some believe that it is even worse


Silent treatment abuse

Is the silent treatment regarded as abuse
Most groups which work directly with victims of domestic abuse would say that the “silent treatment” can be a serious warning sign of abusive tendencies if used coercively or in conjunction with other abusive or negligent behavior.

For example, a parent who used the “silent treatment” on a child who was clearly in actual distress from a condition like hunger would be acting abusively.

A spouse who used routinely used the “silent treatment” to emotionally coerce their partner into actions or behavior which cause distress or harm could also be considered abusive.

Obviously, I’m not talking about a momentary refusal to communicate or a reasonable request for private time.

The scenarios I’m discussing involve a greater degree of manipulation than that, often arising from existing abusive behavior.

Is silent treatment a form of abuse?

The silent treatment seems ‘meant’ to be a form of abuse or punishment, but when compared to the word games, victim stories, stories about how adored and admired they are, rages, blatant lies, insults, demeaning and belittling statements and behaviors, being given the ‘silent treatment’ often becomes a welcome source of relief.
The silent treatment as a ‘form of abuse’ works ONLY if you keep trying to initiate contact or conversation with the person giving you the ‘silent treatment’.
Silent treatments often backfire on a person who is trying to get MORE attention or control another person by giving the ‘silent treatment’.
The silent treatment is a way to be ‘offensive’ to you without saying or doing anything ‘abusive’. One of the easiest ways to tell if a person is trying to use the ‘silent treatment’ as ‘form of abuse’ is when that person gets angry at you for ignoring that THEY are giving YOU the ‘silent treatment’. Try to talk to them and they keep giving you the silent treatment. Ignore that they are giving you the silent treatment, they initiate contact and are angrily abusive toward you. Click to continue reading
https://uwagood.com/2022/10/23/silent-treatment-abuse-is-silence-a-form-of-emotional-abuse/