DEAR DEIDRE: WHENEVER I fall out with my boyfriend, he cuts off all contact until I apologise.
We’re both 20. It started just after we met.
We fell out over something stupid at college, and he ignored me for a week.
I thought he’d dumped me, but he messaged me again like nothing had happened.
Now he does it every time we disagree or I say something he doesn’t like.
My mum caught me crying about it, and she says it’s “stonewalling”.
Is it bad? Apart from this I’m really happy with our relationship.
MORE FROM DEAR DEIDRE
DEIDRE SAYS: Stone-walling is when someone refuses to talk.
Stonewalling partners tend to use different methods: changing the subject, evading your questions, going silent or storming off.
But they’re all just ways of controlling you.
We often think of stone-walling as harmless but, in fact, it’s a form of emotional abuse.
My pack Abusive Partner? will help you work out what to do next.
Get in touch with the Dear Deidre team
Every problem gets a personal reply from one of our trained counsellors.
Fill out and submit our easy-to-use and confidential form and the Dear Deidre team will get back to you.
You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page or email us at:
deardeidre@the-sun.co.uk
