If this is you, you are not alone ‼️‼️💔

When criticism triggers defensiveness instead of curiosity, the conversation quickly slides into avoidance, then cold disregard, and finally a complete absence of repair, leaving both people lonelier than before.

If the other person doesn't want to join that pathway of repair, then let go. Repair requires both parties to meet in the middle. If you've opened your door and no one steps in, at some point you have to close it.

He’s describing what narcissists do to you during the cycle of narcissistic abuse

People are terrified by truth, they’d rather run a game of hide and seek, than face it.

It wasn't really the attack. It wasn't really the defensiveness. It wasn't really them needing "space" to cool off and process. It was a failure to return to repair, or being dismissive of attempted conversation and communication to resolve

I just suffered continuous episodes of the silent treatment, over ten years, so many things that were never resolved. Walked away in the end, couldn't hack it any more...

ironic it comes from fem mindset. As a male i find women don't want to discuss or "talk". The maneuvering is amazing when confronted. Yes men do it but usually by shutting down completely or violence. While women tend to play opossum, avoid, attack, blame, deny, etc...

🎯

Does anyone know who this person is that is talking?

My partner and I understand that there can be times in a discussion or argument/disagreement where emotions can start running high because of misunderstandings or defensiveness so we ask each other if we can “put a pin in it for later” or we express that we need to step away. 1/2

The day I realized this was when my life started to get better.

👍

People throw the words like abusive out way to easy these days.

@grok who is this speaker?

“Abusive”. People, come on….😒

Serious Truth

It spills from a relationship, to the outside!Even worse-ppl as such will project all their incapacities within the relationship,to outside,unwilling victims. It's a cycle. I've had ppl out there be rude to me for no reason. Maybe that's how they deal with relationship problems.

No one cares to repair anymore. They all just using each other.

Shame feeds on denial and avoidance. If you want the shame to go away, face it!!!!