Ignoring a narcissist who ignores you can be a difficult but necessary step for your mental and emotional well-being.
A narcissist does not ignore you because you did something bad; a narcissist will ignore you just because they are a narcissist.
You might even be asking yourself what you did wrong.
However, because of them, you might be recapitulating your acts or sufficed with remorse. You might feel wedged in the condition because their denial to talk to you prevents you from resolving the problem.
Narcissists detest being shunned; they most likely want to cause you to feel embarrassed, guilty, and demoralised.
They always want absolute authority, pushing to any distance to continue feeling delegated. Knowing that a narcissist will not leave you the first time you snub them is essential.
This is the typical narcissist retort to being shunned. They will deal with everything like a match and be prepared to defeat and triumph.
Ignoring a narcissist who ignores you may be the fairest form of retaliation; this is why they behave unreasonably when snubbed, but you should not make it your preceding incentive.
The key thing to remember is that, no matter how difficult it may be, you must be mature enough to let go of toxic people.
What Happens When A Narcissist Is Given The Silent Treatment?
When you give them the silent treatment, they will get worried and scared.
We all have been in a condition where we assumed that the only route to getting back at them was to neglect them.
Whether it is because they were provoking you or making you feel irritated, the silent treatment is the best option for those seeking to make someone know how much they adore themselves.
This strategy works because it always makes them feel neglected and unimportant. This will make them try to find attention from another person.
The only disadvantage is that the silent treatment must be applied consistently before it affects the narcissist.
The justification for this is that narcissists are always so selfish that they will not even observe being shunned until they get tired of being unattended. To ensure this doesn’t repeat itself, you must ignore them without thinking about them for a second.
When you unexpectedly give a narcissist the silent treatment, they will first attempt to comprehend why you suddenly changed. How they respond will depend on what they believe is the reason behind the silent treatment you give them.
While five narcissists may make five diverse decisions on why you are giving them the silent treatment, their comeback will be based on two factors. It will be based on whether they feel you are intentionally neglecting them.
You may be thinking about how the narcissist will know if you intentionally disregard them. Most of them are smart when you are in a fight with a narcissist and immediately start giving them the silent treatment.
They will know that the reason for the silent treatment is your fight with them.
What To Do When A Narcissist Is Giving You The Silent Treatment
One of the most annoying narcissistic manners is silent treatment. Narcissists use a typical stratagem to disprove their victims’ sentiments and feelings.
It can make these victims discredit themselves, feel guilty about their acts, or even make an apology to defuse and clear the atmosphere that comes with the silent treatment.
Nevertheless, there is a better way to respond to the narcissistic’s silent treatment. This response is that you should not become involved in a brawl with them.
If they do not get a response from you, they can not manipulate you with the silent treatment. If you responded to their silent treatment, you would fuel their sense of discreteness and egoism.
Having to tolerate silent treatment is not a form of pleasure for anyone. It makes you feel unfit and maybe a bit sore. The only that comes out of using the silent treatment is negative sensations.
Cikanavicius, Schneider, and Ann Pietrangelo shared manners to react to a circumstance where a narcissist believes that they are manipulating you with the silent treatment:
- Stand your ground.
- Neglect it until it has died down.
- Do not give in to emotional abuse.
- Be aware that the narcissist has not acquired the ability to convey a great level of compassion, mutuality, or concession.
When A Narcissist Goes Silent on Social Media
Narcissists use social media to seek assurance and respect from others, which could be very notable among narcissists who are powerless because they are worried about other people’s beliefs.
When they go silent, they try to become the centre of your life as they continue to hold back on attention and conversation.
To them, it is not an easy issue when a narcissist goes silent. All they desire from this entire trauma is to have the utmost authority. Occasionally, the feeling of being defeated and unconfident is masked by quietness.
This is exactly how they feel; the only thing they can do to feel confident and secure again goes silent.
They just shut off, quit replying to your texts and calls, and become invisible from your life, or perhaps, they are still physically there, but they pretend to like you do not even exist.
For an individual who has never gone through this, the narcissist’s silent treatment may sound rather non-toxic.
Some might even tell you it’s not such a major problem. Well, it is.
Not only does it shatter your morale, but the worst part is that it pulls you further into their egocentric net – which is what the narcissist wants to achieve.
At What Point Will A Narcissist Go Quiet?
Narcissists go quiet when they do not want to talk to you or do not have the chance to talk to you again.
The negative sentiments that narcissists have hidden within themselves will be turned on when you do not respond to their silence.
The issue is that they need to have the emotional skills that are needed to handle their sentiments.
And when you do not react to their silence, their provoked emotions will mar their emotional composure.
They might still be physically there but behave fully emotionally disconnected from you. Either pattern, you feel utterly defeated.
It is like they are attempting to make you look over their mind. They refuse to unite and speak, but simultaneously, they discipline you unconsciously for the missteps you took.
Why Do Narcissists Go Silent?
Silent treatment is a tactic used by narcissists to manipulate their victims into feeling guilty, confused, and vulnerable, thereby exerting control over them. By withdrawing attention and communication, the narcissist seeks to maintain their position as the centre of their universe, even inside the victim’s head.
Their ultimate goal is to distract you from your own needs by focusing your attention on trying to fix the situation, making you more susceptible to their manipulations. This can cause you to neglect yourself and become increasingly focused on the narcissist’s desires.
It is important to note that emotionally healthy individuals do not use silent treatment as a tool to punish loved ones for their mistakes. However, for a narcissist, asserting power and maintaining control is a common and calculated tool.
It should be a red flag if you experience silent treatment from a narcissist. They have designed a scheme where you accept fault while they wait for you to come to them. Their main aim is not to create a connection; they can survive the silent treatment as long as they want.
The silent treatment can also lead to gaslighting, where the narcissist abuses those around them to suit their needs.
If you find yourself in this situation, handle it with dignity. Recognise the tactic for what it is and prioritise your own needs. Don’t accept blame for something that isn’t your fault; don’t let the narcissist’s behaviour control you. Seek support from trusted friends or professionals if needed, and remember that you deserve respect and dignity in your relationships.
How To Handle The Silent Treatment With Dignity
Some people who dish out the silent treatment are not always doing it out of spitefulness.
They may have issues communicating their thoughts, particularly regarding negative sentiments like outrage and distress. They may also be scared of how you might respond, learning how they truly feel or think.
The silent treatment aches, and it is difficult not to respond. But the only way to get along with silent treatment abuse is to behave as if it doesn’t concern you — even when it does.
When given the silent treatment, it is effortless to be dazed. You might even feel like you are trying to save and beat yourself up for not knowing the other person’s thoughts. The instant you begin to feel this way, stop it.
If your partner gives any signal they want to adjust, propose to assist them. Contrarily, pay them no attention. Be certain to enclose yourself with optimistic people.
Eat healthily and exercise more often. Speak positive declarations every day. Point out that you are not horrible for having a relationship with someone who offers you the silent treatment.
A better way to attend to the silent treatment is to speak up concerning their manners but do it appealingly. Do not worsen the case by shouting at them, spewing bitter words, or unleashing your anger on them.
Hold a conversation with them when they are happy and bring to their knowledge how this demeanour affects you.
That is, to be able to handle the silent treatment, you need to figure out where it’s originating from. If the silent treatment after a dispute is to let things cool off, it can be a beneficial way of handling conflicts. But if they neglect you to influence you or pitch the power drift in the relationship in their favour, you surely need to know that this is a type of mental abuse.
Related Article: Am I The Problem In My Family, Or Is My Family Toxic?
Conclusion
Expectantly, figuring out why a narcissist shuns you can assist you in liberating yourself from their power. Regardless of how much the narcissist you know might attempt to persuade you otherwise, condemning you for their inappropriate manner is a different type of narcissistic abuse. If you’re wedged in thinking about why a narcissist ignores you, you must know they will not adjust.
Get the understanding and backing that you require so you can get the adoration that you need. There are various types of narcissists; some act better than the rest, while others must be overseen with strong supervision and guidance.
Address the silent treatment with dignity by calling out their demeanour. Enlighten them by making them know that neglecting someone is abuse and they can’t continue with the act.
