Why does the silent treatment hurt so much?

The Silent Treatment is Physically Painful Research has shown that the act of ignoring or excluding a person activates the same area of the brain that is activated by physical pain. The silent treatment, even if it’s brief, activates the anterior cingulate cortex — the part of the brain that detects physical pain.

Is the silent treatment painful?

Silence is used as a weapon to cut off meaningful conversations, stop the flow of information, and ultimately hurt the other person. In fact, research shows that ignoring or excluding someone activates the same area of the brain that is activated by physical pain.

How powerful is the silent treatment?

According to a 2012 study, people who regularly feel ignored also report lower levels of self-esteem, belonging, and meaning in their lives. Because of this, the silent treatment can have an impact on the health of a relationship, even if the person who is silent is trying to avoid conflict.

When do you get silent treatment after an argument?

Calmly tell the person that you’ve noticed they’re not responding and you want to understand why. Emphasize that you want to resolve things. While it’s not your fault that someone else decides to give you the silent treatment, you do have a responsibility to apologize if you’ve done something wrong.

What is the silent treatment for pain?

1,100,406 views. The silent treatment is a way to inflict pain without visible bruising – literally. Research has shown that the act of ignoring or excluding activates the same area of the brain that is activated by physical pain.

What happens to your brain when you get the silent treatment?

It’s called the anterior cingulate cortex, and it activates when someone receives the silent treatment. You heard that right: When someone is ignored, their brain tells them they are in physical pain. Symptoms could include anything from headaches to diarrhea or constipation to stomach pains, as well as insomnia, anxiety, and fatigue.

What is the silent treatment in a divorce?

The silent treatment is a way to inflict pain without visible bruising – literally. Research has shown that the act of ignoring or excluding activates the same area of the brain that is activated by physical pain. The best predictor of divorce isn’t whether a couple fights – arguments are inevitable – but how a couple fights.

Is it okay to give someone the silent treatment?

There are people who take the silent treatment to extremes. No one should ever be treated this way, or feel like they have to put up with this kind of behavior in someone else because it is most definitely not okay. It is also not something you can just “get over” or “just move on” from because it stays with you.