Narcissist Silent Treatment: Definition, Examples, and Coping Tips (2024)

FAQs

Narcissist Silent Treatment: Definition, Examples, and Coping Tips? ›

1. Empathy: Narcissists struggle to understand or connect with the concept of empathy. It goes against their self-centered nature, and they become defensive or angry when confronted with this word. They dismiss others' feelings, turn conversations back to themselves, or fail to acknowledge emotions.

1. Empathy: Narcissists struggle to understand or connect with the concept of empathy. It goes against their self-centered nature, and they become defensive or angry when confronted with this word. They dismiss others' feelings, turn conversations back to themselves, or fail to acknowledge emotions.

The narcissist typically runs through a sequence of defenses to discharge painful feelings until he or she finds one that works: unconscious repression. conscious denial. distortion (including exaggeration and minimization), rationalisation and lies.

People with narcissistic qualities may use silent treatment as a form of abuse or manipulation in order to avoid blame, maintain control, or punish you. If someone in your life gives you the silent treatment, ignore them, do activities that make you happy, and stay connected with your friends and family.

Deny them what they want.

Many narcissists are users. They expect you to be there for them, but they have no intention of reciprocating. Start saying “no” to them, and focus on what you want instead. They'll get super frustrated and realize how great a partner you were for them.

However, if you find yourself backed into a corner, one way to sooth a narcissist's rage is to empathize with their feelings, Greenberg said. She suggested saying something like: "You must have felt very hurt by what I did, I can understand why you are feeling that way."

Mental health experts have observed that, sometimes, when a narcissistic person doesn't receive the external validation they believe they deserve, it can result in a high level of stress and hurt. This emotional pain may turn into narcissistic rage. This rage is at the core of a narcissistic collapse.

Narcissistic silent treatment often comes on in one of two ways: after a disagreement or fight, or it can feel like it is out of the blue. It's important to remember that a narcissist's fragile ego can make them more sensitive to what they perceive as criticism, so you may have upset them without even realizing it.

Why do narcissists stop talking to you? ›

Narcissists need control, which is often the reason why they ignore people. They do not like to feel vulnerable or exposed and will use their power to forgive someone for maintaining that control. Unfortunately, narcissists also lack empathy, so it can be challenging to understand how their behaviour affects others.

There's nothing you can say to someone with this condition to make them snap out of it any more than you can convince a blind person to start seeing, they literally don't have the capacity. If you're in a relationship with a narcissistic, just get out and cut off contact.

Narcissists are highly sensitive to criticism or any perceived threat to their self-image, and they will go to great lengths to protect it. If you criticize them or challenge their dominance, you will trigger a defensive response.

Experts agree one of the worst things you can do in a narcissistic relationship is tell someone that they are a narcissist − even if you are correct. That's because doing so almost always causes more harm than good.

Narcissists have an extreme sensitivity to criticism and humiliation—this is their Achilles' heel. To instill fear in a narcissist, attack their fragile self-worth by pointing out their flaws, highlighting hypocrisies, and making them feel inadequate.

Your happiness and success are the ultimate revenge. Feeling good about yourself is the antidote to someone whose goal was to control you and bring you down. Forgive this person for their behavior—and move on.