7 Useful Ways to Confront Someone Giving You the Silent Treatment ...
By Corina • 6 Comments
By Corina • 6 Comments
I must tell you that there are quite a few ways to confront someone giving you the silent treatment! We’ve all been in this situation where someone that we care about simply doesn’t want to talk to us for apparently no reason. Even though things can get pretty annoying after a while, you shouldn’t ignore them, because most of the time, they just don’t know how to express their feelings or how to communicate their needs openly. That’s why they use this form of manipulation. The silent treatment is actually a passive-aggressive action that someone may have learned from past experiences or it might even be something they have picked up more recently. Either way, you should try to help them express themselves in a healthier way, so this behavior should not affect your relationship or your happiness. So, here are a few pretty useful ways to confront someone giving you the silent treatment that you should definitely consider:
This is definitely one of the first things you should do when someone refuses to talk to you for apparently no reason. Just question your own behavior and see if you haven’t done something wrong, something that might have made your loved one upset. If you realize that your actions may have hurt their feelings, just apologize and see what you can do to make things right again. In my opinion, this is one of the most useful ways to confront someone giving you the silent treatment, because by admitting that what you did was inappropriate, the other person will be more eager to forgive you.
If you still haven’t deciphered the reasons why your loved one is so upset, then you should just confront them, but not before rehearsing what you will say during your meeting. I’m sure you don’t want to get nervous or too defensive, so try to be prepared and plan that conversation ahead of time. Just imagine that you are alone with that person who is no longer talking to you and just say out loud what you want to say. It really is that easy.
The best way to confront that person regarding this matter is by speaking in private with them, so that no one will interrupt you. Just don’t give into their game and remember that communication is everything. Even if they ignore you at first, just smile and say what’s on your mind. Show them you care about them and just explain to them the impact their behavior has on you.
If you don’t have the opportunity to talk to them in private or if you don’t have the courage to do it, you could just write things down at first, so they can be clearer for you too. Then, you could simply send them a letter or an e-mail outlining how you feel and how their actions are hurting you. Even though this is not the best way to confront someone who is giving you the silent treatment, it’s still pretty efficient, especially if you don’t have the possibility to see that person.
The best way to confront anyone who is upset with you is by using humor to brighten up their mood and lighten up that conversation. Even if, at first, this might seem a bit inappropriate, it’s actually the best way to make them listen to what you have to say. Just be playful and express how this entire situation is making you feel. I’m sure they’re not happy either, so just let go of your pride and try to work things out.
It’s so easy to lose your temper, especially when you’re talking to someone who is already upset about something that you did and who is giving you the silent treatment. Just watch your tone, because I’m sure you wouldn’t want to make things any worse. Try to avoid patronizing them if you want to work things out and simply listen to what they have to say.
Another best way to solve a conflict with someone who refuses to talk to you is by learning how to act in a more assertive way, so you’ll be able to express your feelings and stand up for yourself, while still paying attention to your loved one’s needs. There are a lot of books you can read on this matter and also a lot of courses you can take to improve your assertive skills. Just take some action and do something to make things better again for the two of you!
Sometimes it can be pretty difficult to deal with someone who is giving you the silent treatment, but it’s not impossible. Just make sure your conflict will not affect or involve other people and try to solve your own issues. Do you know any other tips on how to confront someone who is giving you the silent treatment? How did you solve this kind of situation in the past? Please tell us what you think in the comments section!
Sources: wikihow.com, wikihow.com, telegraph.co.uk