53Shared feeling: feeling hurt
Read stories with this feeling →I understand that people sometimes need time before they can talk. What confuses me is when the silence has no explanation, lasts for days, and ends only when I apologize for bringing up the problem. How can I tell the difference between a healthy pause and a pattern that is meant to make me give in?
Community replies
Most helpfulA pause usually has some clarity around it: ‘I need an hour and I will come back to this.’ The repeated uncertainty and punishment are important parts of the pattern.
I stopped asking whether the label was perfect and started noticing the impact: could I raise a concern without losing basic contact or respect?