Silent Treatment

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Silent treatment is withholding communication, a type of stonewalling behavior that can be intentional or unintentional. For some, it’s a coping mechanism. For others, it’s a way of causing harm, creating a negative “social exclusion” effect on our bodies and minds. According to research, our sympathetic nervous system reacts when we think that a social bond is under threat. Our dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) — the region of our brain responsible for processing pain — lights up. Giving someone the silent treatment is a behavior that indicates poor communication, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation skills.