“Unmasking Resentment: 7 Sneaky Behaviors That Reveal Someone’s Hidden Grudge Against You!”
A friend or partner who does this is trying to communicate frustration or anger, but rather than come out and say it, they leave you hanging.
In my early twenties, I actually thought this was normal. I’d bend over backward to appease someone, believing I was at fault.
It took me years—and many counseling sessions of my own—to see that the silent treatment often masks underlying bitterness or a need to feel in control.
The silence is a pressure tactic. The person is indirectly saying, “Look at how upset I am, and look at how I’m going to make you work for my attention.”