“Stonewalling: A Hidden Form of Relationship Abuse”
Manage episode 486327136 series 3655148
Stonewalling doesn’t look like abuse at first. There’s no yelling. No name-calling. Just silence. Withdrawal. Coldness.
But that silence? That’s the thing that breaks you.
In this episode, I’m talking about a dynamic that too many women—and men—go through and never name. One partner wants to talk, reconnect, fix it. The other shuts down. Looks away. Walks out. Days pass. The damage is done in silence, and nobody sees the bruises because they’re emotional.
I share the emotional and psychological toll of stonewalling, how it mimics abandonment trauma, how avoidantly attached partners often use it without realizing, and why this becomes an invisible form of abuse.
You’ll hear:
- What it’s like to be in a relationship where your pain is met with silence
- How stonewalling breaks trust and nervous system safety
- Why it feels like you’re going “crazy” even when no one’s shouting
- How this leads to resentment, burnout, and ultimately—divorce
- What to do if you’re being stonewalled or if you’re the one doing it
Stonewalling is a nervous system trauma for many—especially those with anxious attachment. It mimics the pain of abandonment and creates a deep, confusing form of emotional neglect. You’re left questioning your worth, feeling like you’re “too much,” when in reality, someone else has simply chosen to disengage.
If you’ve ever begged someone to speak to you, to explain, to just see you—and they shut down instead—this episode is for you.
You were never too much. They just never learned how to stay.
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Chapters
1. Introduction to Love Better Podcast (00:00:00)
2. The Dynamics of Stonewalling and Emotional Abuse (00:09:41)
3. Healthy Communication and Conflict Resolution (00:20:27)
4. Looking For Closure In The Conversation (00:30:07)
5. When Stone Walling Comes From The Mind (00:35:04)
6. Writing A Letter To The Old Version Of Yourself (00:43:05)
7. Focusing On Yourself (00:52:36)
8. New Episode Every Thursday Called LIFE BETTER (00:58:55)
18 episodes