When Silence Hurts

They have gone quiet again. You are left wondering whether to wait, ask or let it go.

When Silence Hurts is a short guide to the silent treatment and withdrawal in relationships. It helps you tell the difference between a safe, chosen pause and a concern that keeps going unanswered, so you stop second-guessing yourself and know what to do next.

This guide will help you

• Understand why silence can mean very different things
• Recognise which of three situations you are in, and how to respond to each
• Invite someone back into the conversation without dropping the issue
• Look after yourself while you wait, and decide what to do if they do not return

Inside

• Why silence has more than one meaning
• Three situations that need different responses
• How to invite someone back without erasing the issue
• What to do during the waiting, and if they do not return
• When ordinary conversation resumes but the issue does not

Your download

• 10-page A4 PDF in British English
• Instant download straight after purchase
• Read on screen or print for personal use

Need the words for when they come back? The Reconnect Scripts includes wording for when your partner goes quiet.

If silence is being used to control or frighten you, safety comes before insight. The guide includes a section on this.

About the author

Natalie Jane is a counsellor and ICF-accredited coach who supports individuals and couples through relational trauma, coercive control and conflict. She holds a Level 4 Diploma in Counselling and a Diploma in Intimate Partner Violence from the University of Glasgow.