Are you experiencing stonewalling in your relationship? Stonewalling is often considered as emotionally abusive and can sometimes lead to relationship breakdown or divorce. If you are considering divorce and would like to speak with specialist divorce solicitors in the Cardiff area then please contact our team today.
What is Stonewalling?
What exactly is stonewalling? Stonewalling has no set definition but is often referred to as the silent treatment and involves an individual refusing to communicate with another person, often their partner, husband or wife.
Individuals stonewall for many reasons, and whether or not it is intentional, it can cause significant distress for the other partner and is often considered a form of abuse.
When a person stonewalls their partner they shut down during arguments and do not provide any responses. Whilst this may be a coping mechanism for some people and an attempt to avoid confrontation, over time stonewalling can have harmful effects on relationships.
Why is stonewalling so harmful?
Stonewalling is harmful to relationships and can be detrimental long term, often being the cause of relationship breakdown and eventually leading to divorce. Our divorce solicitors at First Line Family Law Cardiff often advise individuals who have alleged stonewalling within their relationship and it is common for this to be the ultimate cause of the breakdown.
Whilst many of us may be guilty of giving the silent treatment in some circumstances, if someone stonewalls over a period time, the relationship is likely to breakdown due to the impact on the other partner.
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It is clear that over time the other partner will often stop trying to engage or solve problems and this can lead to distance growing between the couple or resentment building.
Is Stonewalling abusive?
Stonewalling is upsetting and difficult for the other partner to comprehend and many argue that stonewalling is emotionally abusive within relationship.
Stonewalling someone over time can be considered emotional and psychologically abusive, particularly if that person is controlling in other ways or if they are attempting to punish their partner for speaking out about difficulties.
If someone is intentionally stonewalling they are likely doing this to gain control or use it as a tactic to manipulate the other person then in this situation stonewalling is emotionally abusive.
Stonewalling someone over time can be considered emotional and psychologically abusive, particularly if that person is controlling in other ways or if they are attempting to punish their partner for speaking out about difficulties.
If someone is intentionally stonewalling and are doing this to gain control or use it as a tactic to manipulate the other person, then in this situation stonewalling is emotionally abusive.
However, it is important to consider the reason someone is stonewalling. For example, someone may have developed the habit of shutting down over time and as such it has become their coping mechanism. Even if this is someone’s coping mechanism however, the effects of this on the other partner and the relationship are significant.