What is the narcissist silent treatment divorce?

Asked by: Orie Bruen  |  Last update: July 31, 2023
Score: 5/5 (15 votes)

Silent treatment.
This is a more advanced method where the narcissist recreates personal historical events so they look like the sane one while the spouse looks insane. Usually the narcissist mixes a bit of truth with a lot of fiction so the spouse believes their perception is the inaccurate version.

What is the silent treatment of a narcissist spouse?

Signs of the narcissistic silent treatment include:
  1. Things feel like they've flipped from “hot” to “cold”
  2. They haven't spoken to you for an extended period.
  3. They only talk to you when they want something.
  4. You feel like their silence is a punishment.
  5. They use stonewalling tactics.

What is the silent treatment from a narcissist ex?

The Purpose of the Silent Treatment

Essentially, the point of the silent treatment is to make the victim feel confused, stressed, guilty, ashamed, not good enough, or unstable enough so that they would do what the manipulator wants.

Will a narcissist break silent treatment?

So, it is common for the narcissist in our lives to end the silent treatment so they can abuse/manipulate us back into becoming a source of narcissistic supply. Suggested Reading: Narcissistic supply is the validation, admiration, reassurance, power, and control that narcissists get from their surrounding environment.

Why a narcissist won t divorce his wife?

Narcissists are notoriously difficult to divorce. They often use their partner's emotional needs against them, dragging out the process for as long as possible. This is because they are dependent on the “narcissistic supply” to feel good about themselves.

Narcissists and the Silent Treatment

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How does a narcissist react during a divorce?

Finding out you want a divorce can also make a narcissist feel like they have failed, which could cause them to lash out. They will likely retaliate by trying to belittle you, expose your flaws, and show the court why you “were never good enough” for them.

How does a narcissist react to a divorce?

Narcissists tend to put up a strong fight and view divorce as a competition they must win. This adversarial attitude can result in bullying, exploitative behavior, and a refusal to negotiate rationally.

How do you outsmart a narcissist silent treatment?

If they choose to give us the silent treatment then it's up to them, not you. By establishing boundaries, enforcing consequences if necessary, sharing emotions with others, and speaking up for yourself; you will take away their power, thus protecting yourself from the narcissist's silent treatment.

What does a narcissist want you to do during the silent treatment?

However, the expectation from the narcissist is that you apologize for the wrong you committed, and until you “learn your lesson” then they will not talk to you. The silent treatment, a form of stonewalling, is a tool used by narcissists to punish someone who has behaved in a way they don't like.

What happens when you ignore a narcissist silent treatment?

Simply put, narcissists hate being ignored. They probably want to make you feel ashamed, regretful, and rattled. They want to be in control and will go to any length to keep feeling empowered. It's critical to understand that a narcissist will not leave you alone the first time you ignore them.

How long can a narcissist keep up the silent treatment?

The silent treatment can last for hours, days, weeks or months. Some people do this because they are genuinely hurt and unable to speak. When they do feel able to talk, it'll be a two-way conversation. A narcissist uses the silent treatment to punish you.

What a narcissist does at the end of a relationship?

At the end of a relationship, a narcissist will often spiral down a long-winded gauntlet of manipulation tactics. They may blame you for causing the relationship to fail, work hard to keep you to stay with them, make lofty promises to change their behavior, or badmouth you to everyone around them.

Why does a narcissist ignore his wife?

They ignore you because they want to control you. One of the main reasons why a narcissist ignores you is that they want to control you. More likely, they want to regain control of you. A narcissist uses ignoring people as a way to punish them.

What type of person uses the silent treatment?

The silent treatment might be employed by passive personality types to avoid conflict and confrontation, while strong personality types use it to punish or control. Some people may not even consciously choose it at all.

What to say to a narcissist to shut them down permanently?

I Don't Like How You're Speaking to Me so I Will not Engage” Saying this sets a boundary. They feed off of triggering you, so knowing that you won't participate in a fight will cut off their supply. For this to work, it's important that you don't cave in when the narcissist inevitably persists in engaging you.

Why the silent treatment is toxic?

1 In abusive relationships, the silent treatment is used to manipulate the other person and to establish power over them. Silence is used as a weapon to cut off meaningful conversations, stop the flow of information, and ultimately hurt the other person.

How do you break the silent treatment?

If the silent treatment does not appear to be part of a larger pattern of abuse, a person can try the following approaches:
  1. Name the situation. ...
  2. Use 'I' statements. ...
  3. Acknowledge the other person's feelings. ...
  4. Apologize for words or actions. ...
  5. Cool off and arrange a time to resolve the issue. ...
  6. Avoid unhelpful responses.

What is the psychology behind the silent treatment?

Some individuals may engage in silent treatment to exert control, while internally feeling paralyzed in deciding whether to commit to the relationship or end it. And, with or without awareness, some individuals may resort to silent treatment in an effort to have a partner be the one to initiate the break.

What turns a narcissist off?

When you don't depend on anyone to make money and you use your abundance to take care of yourself and not predators, you will always have the ability to control your own future. This is power, and pathologically envious narcissists are often turned off by it because it means they cannot easily control a victim.

What is the best thing you can do is ignore a narcissist?

If you're in a relationship with a narcissist, you may find yourself feeling devalued, unimportant, and even invisible. The best way to deal with a narcissist is to ignore them. By doing this, you take away their power and control. Narcissists thrive on attention and need constant validation.

How do you starve a narcissist?

Don't accommodate them. If they need you to do something for them, even if it's small or no trouble at all — don't do it. Try to refuse them with the least amount of fuss possible. Know that the more you do for the narcissist, the worse it will get.

Will a narcissist settle in a divorce?

Unfortunately, this type of conflict may continue throughout the marriage dissolution process, despite your best wishes to remain civil and settle certain issues outside of court. A narcissist will often attempt to make their divorce as difficult as possible as a way of maintaining control.

How does a narcissist treat his wife?

Narcissists are misogynists. They hold women in contempt, they loathe and fear them. They seek to torment and frustrate them (either by debasing them sexually – or by withholding sex from them). They harbor ambiguous feelings towards the sexual act.

Will a narcissist ever settle a divorce?

The narcissistic spouse is not likely to concede anything. Temper any settlement expectations you may have accordingly. (Or ask for much more than you want so that you can settle for what you actually want.) At some point, the narcissist will accuse you of stalling and dragging out the divorce.