

{"id":44522,"date":"2019-12-30T11:07:48","date_gmt":"2019-12-30T11:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=44522"},"modified":"2023-06-03T10:48:33","modified_gmt":"2023-06-03T10:48:33","slug":"how-to-cope-if-your-spouse-stonewalls-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/communication\/how-to-cope-if-your-spouse-stonewalls-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Cope if Your Spouse Stonewalls You"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44525 size-full\" title=\"How to Cope if Your Spouse Stonewalls You\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/How-to-Cope-if-Your-Spouse-Stonewalls-You.jpg\" alt=\"How to Cope if Your Spouse Stonewalls You\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, let&rsquo;s define stonewalling in a relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is stonewalling, and why does it become a reason for some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/communication\/reason-for-failed-marriages\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">marriages to fail<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? Stonewalling happens when one partner absolutely refuses to consider the opinion of the other.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is a failure in communication and can be hurtful, frustrating, and eventually creates a rift between couples.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When one partner refuses to consider the point of view of their spouse, then the marriage becomes problematic. The partner on the receiving end of the emotional stonewalling suffers from <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/coping-when-your-spouse-shuts-down-4097175\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">isolation and distrust<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But why do some partners opt to do stonewalling in marriage?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lack-of-trust\"><\/span>Lack of trust<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a partner decides to shut down, and you are on the receiving end of stonewalling in a relationship, it is a sign that your partner doesn&rsquo;t trust your judgment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are either trying to avoid a fight, or they believe nothing constructive will come out of your end by discussing the issue further.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Either way, they feel that your reaction, opinion, and point of view is a waste of time, and they would rather not deal with it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider it carefully. They may have a point.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some people, regardless of gender, have serious <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.helpguide.org\/articles\/relationships-communication\/anger-management.htm\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anger management issues<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you do, then chances are, they are doing it to prevent more significant problems from happening.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are not the type who throws tantrums or dishes at your spouse over little things, then they don&rsquo;t trust you in other ways.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"They-feel-your-opinion-is-irrelevant\"><\/span>They feel your opinion is irrelevant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A married couple shares their life together, but that doesn&rsquo;t mean that they have to do everything together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/let-there-be-some-space-in-your-relationship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthy relationship has space<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Some partners could resort to stonewalling abuse if they feel that their spouse is overstepping their boundaries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They could also use it as an excuse to extend the boundaries and establish control over you and your relationship.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stonewalling emotional abuse is a toxic method a partner can use to control their partner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carefully judge which is which. Are they stonewalling in a relationship because they feel you meddle too much in their affairs? Is your partner open when discussing other issues with you?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Controlling partners implement more than one form of control and not just <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">silent treatment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"It%E2%80%99s-not-stonewalling\"><\/span>It&rsquo;s not stonewalling<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&rsquo;s also possible that you are overreacting. They just don&rsquo;t want to discuss the issue anymore and want to step off. You are pressing the matter too forcefully, and your partner is trying to avoid a big fight by ignoring you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step back, cool down, and see if you can reopen the topic at a later time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it is a matter of importance, then make sure to let your partner know that you wish to discuss the subject again and are happy to leave them alone and gather their thoughts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How-to-communicate-with-someone-who-shuts-down\"><\/span>How to communicate with someone who shuts down<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-42646 size-full\" title=\"How to communicate with someone who shuts down\" src=\"https:\/\/image.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Communication-is-essential.jpg\" alt=\"How to communicate with someone who shuts down\" width=\"804\" height=\"350\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have eliminated other possibilities and you are sure that your partner is purposely cutting off communication with you and stonewalling in your relationship, then it is time to change gears and approach the problem from another angle.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stonewalling in relationships are either a form of abuse or a peacekeeper.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some partners would not let trivial matters go and are willing to escalate who ate the last piece of cake into World War III. Even if you repeatedly said it is your cake, and your partner ate it, is it worth burning the bed?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/physical-intimacy\/prioritize-your-relationship-partner-and-sexual-connection\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set your priorities<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and then figure out how to discuss the issue in a different light.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you feel that eating &ldquo;your&rdquo; last piece of cake is not just about the cake, but about<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/quotes\/574\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> respect<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Then you have a point. But forcing the issue in their face also means that you don&rsquo;t respect them, nothing good will come out of such a confrontational scenario.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stonewalling communication means they are trying to tell you something without saying it. If they use it too frequently to the point of abuse, then you have a more significant underlying <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/communication\/communication-failures\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">failure of communication<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Here are ways to re-establish communication in a relationship<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Write-a-letter\"><\/span>Write a letter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are still uses for an old fashioned <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/love\/ideas-to-write-a-love-letter-to-your-husband\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">love letter<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be creative in sending it, you don&rsquo;t have to post it in the fridge or send it over registered mail (both works). Do not engage or point fingers, the last thing you want is to piss off your partner by putting it all on their shoulders.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Also watch:<\/strong><br><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9x-LlUFOmWc\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Discuss-it-over-romantic-dinner\"><\/span>Discuss it over romantic dinner<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reset the mood first. Create a relaxing situation (after-sex is good too) before you open up a topic that you feel your partner is stonewalling you. Talking at a later time and at the right moment is always the best choice in breaking down communication barriers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Seek-help-from-a-third-party\"><\/span>Seek help from a third party<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Friends, family, or professional <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/counseling\/marriage-and-family-counselors-how-they-can-help\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">marriage therapists<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can break down barriers and help establish a communication bridge.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use-technology\"><\/span>Use technology<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to re-establish communication as if you are dating again. Pretend everything is a joke and playfully text your partner. Do not approach the topic right away, try to see if they are receptive to communication with you (don&rsquo;t pretend to be someone else) using mobile apps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Ignore it<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is the last piece of cake really enough to end your relationship? It can ruin your day, and it is frustrating that your partner consistently shows a disrespectful attitude towards you. But you married them, and you should be used to it by now. Let it slide (again), and continue on with your marital life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learning how to handle stonewalling takes a lot of patience. If your partner is consistently stonewalling in your relationship. You may feel unsatisfied and unloved. It can be a temporary <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cosmopolitan.com\/sex-love\/advice\/a3131\/relationship-bonding-problem-0109\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bump in your relationship<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or a sign that you married a loser.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do your best to make your relationship work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Observe your partner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See if they are using <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/emotionally-withdrawn-husband\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">emotional withdrawal <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in relationships to control you. Remember that stonewalling in a relationship is a weapon. Like all weapons, it can bring peace or war. Make sure you figure out which before you make any drastic actions.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false,"raw":""},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First, let&rsquo;s define stonewalling in a relationship. What is stonewalling, and why does it become a reason for some marriages to fail? Stonewalling happens when one partner absolutely refuses to consider the opinion of the other. It is a failure in communication and can be hurtful, frustrating, and eventually creates a rift between couples. When one partner refuses to consider the point of view of their spouse, then the marriage becomes problematic. The partner on the receiving end of the emotional stonewalling suffers from isolation and distrust. But why do some partners opt to do stonewalling in marriage? Lack of <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1419,"featured_media":44525,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[2509],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44522"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1419"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44522"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44522\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":51188,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44522\/revisions\/51188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44525"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44522"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44522"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44522"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}