Have you ever had a fight with your partner, which resulted in them completely ignoring you – even as you confront them about their tactic? They simply won’t reply to you, regardless of how you approach them, complicating an already challenging situation. That, my friend, is what is known as stonewalling, or the silent treatment.
Stonewalling is when a person completely shuts down and is unresponsive to attempts by another party to settle a conflict. This makes the other person feel frustrated, because they are basically talking to a wall. If you happen to have a partner who does this, there are a 5 ways to respond to them to make sure that your relationship remains sound. Because there’s nothing that helps a relationship blossom more than communication.
Be In Their Shoes
Well, not literally. But attempt to consider things from their viewpoint. It’s likely that they are speechless because they feel overwhelmed by the circumstance and are unable to properly communicate their views. Try to convey your support for them while also assuring them that you appreciate their connection and want to make things right. More chaos will not help; refrain from using it as a weapon.
Give Some Space
After expressing your concern and desire to resolve the disagreement, give them space to think. The only way to ease the strain is to give them some breathing room; do not overburden them. So that both of you are prepared to discuss the problem, let them take the next step in how they wish to handle the situation. Because you’d certainly want to put the past in the past and let it go.
Address The Stonewalling
It could be challenging to bring up, but it’s not impossible. Without placing blame or making an accusation against them, you must steer the conversation towards their resistance. Mention how refusing to cooperate will not improve the situation and would actually harm your connection. Mention how important communication is to a healthy relationship as well. Instead of ignoring the issues, look for solutions.
Avoid Pointing Fingers
When things get hot, it’s easy to get sucked into the finger-pointing game. Everyone seeks to feel validated or justified in their emotions. And passing the blame by using the pronoun “you” can become an integral aspect of a dispute. But in these circumstances, nobody triumphs. There is no give and take if neither party takes ownership. And no justification for proceeding. You’re showing your partner that you’re in this together by accepting responsibility for your part in the issues, and that you desire to make an effort to comprehend their viewpoint.
Re-evaluate
It would be wise to reevaluate your relationship if you frequently find yourself in this situation. Being in a relationship where your opinion is ignored and all you want to do is resolve disagreements is genuinely unhealthy. It is certainly a good sign if your partner makes an effort to alter their behaviour for the relationship’s benefit. I wouldn’t bother them if they didn’t, though.
