How To Deal With Unresponsive Partner: 11 Best Steps

This new article will show you everything you need to know about how to deal with unresponsive partner.

Few things hurt a partner more in a relationship than being ignored. You may be inclined to demand that your loved one let go of their barriers if they seem emotionally distant or won’t communicate with you. While these methods rarely work, the good news is that you have alternative options. In this post, we’ll go through some ways you can use to communicate with a loved one who is unresponsive.

How To Deal With Unresponsive Partner:

1. Keep a cool head.

Don’t react violently or “punish” your partner. Your SO may feel less comfortable sharing personal information with you if you act on your emotions instead of talking about them. Take a few calm, deep breaths if you start to feel like you’re losing your cool the next time your partner seems distant. Before you talk to him or her, you may need to take a little break and collect your thoughts.

Remember that their actions say more about them than about you. Keeping an emotional distance is often a coping strategy used by people to deal with unwanted emotions.

2. Express your feelings to your loved one.

Use “I” statements so people don’t feel attacked. If your SO is distant or cuts you off, explain your feelings in a calm way. Simply share your experience with them without putting any expectations on them or trying to force them to open up.

For example, “I’m disappointed and saddened when you avoid looking me in the eye. I feel as if you don’t care about me. “

Don’t say anything that suggests that your partner is to blame for your behavior or that you are attacking him personally. For example, don’t use phrases like, “You’re always so icy, you! You drive me crazy! “

3. Identify your contribution to the partnership dynamic.

Analyze your own actions with sincerity. Try to imagine what this might look like for your partner. Consider whether something you do might cause your partner to go into “defense mode.”

For example, do you often cut people off or interrupt them when they are speaking? When they do something you don’t like, do you react with aggression or become overly critical? If so, admit it to yourself and to the other person. Let her know that you are aware of the problem and are ready to make changes in your behavior.

For example, “I am aware that I sometimes react to criticism, but I will try to be better at it because I want you to be able to talk to me when something hurts you.”

Doing this can be quite difficult. It’s quite normal if your partner’s actions have caused you to feel very hurt. But showing empathy and taking responsibility for your actions can go a long way toward making your partner feel comfortable and less defensive.

SEE ALSO: How To Communicate Without Offending Someone: 13 Top Ways

4. Clearly define your desires and expectations.

It is possible that your partner will not understand what you need from them. They can’t read your mind, no matter how clear it is to you. Clearly and politely ask for what you want them to change.

Saying something like: “Next time you’re angry with me, could you kindly explain to me how you feel and what’s upsetting you?” would work. You could also say, “I understand that you are unhappy, but it would mean a lot to me if you would look at me or speak up when I speak to you.”

5. Find out how you can calm them down.

If at all possible, try to do this when you are both calm and at ease. Recognize, without passing judgment, that your SO tends to withdraw when they are upset with you. Discuss with them what you can do to facilitate dialogue and help them feel more at ease when this happens.

For example, “I’ve noticed that sometimes you seem to withdraw and don’t want to talk when you’re under stress. “How can I contact you in such a situation?”

Try to really hear what your partner is saying (1) and understand their response. Better yet, try to translate their statements into your own words to refute them. For example, “Ok, it seems that you become quiet when you need some time alone to cool off because you are afraid you will lose your anger and scream. Is that accurate? “

6. Set rigid boundaries

Be nice, but make it clear that obstructive behavior is unacceptable. Explain gently that you will not interact with your loved one if she consistently isolates you when problems arise in the relationship. Set some clear guidelines for punishment, and then follow them consistently.

As an example, you can say, “I’ll go if you don’t want to talk to me now, okay? I find it challenging to be in your presence when you behave this way. “

7. Set an “example” with your own behavior.

Both attentiveness and compassion are contagious. According to research, people who make an attempt to be kind, approachable, and sensitive to their partners express greater happiness in the relationship. Despite your current frustration with your SO, try treating them the way you would like to be treated. Do your best to approach them with kindness and understanding while paying close attention to their needs.

Whenever this happens, recognize and encourage your partner to be open and responsive! Say something like: “I’m glad we were able to sit down and talk about this,” or “It means a lot to me that you shared this with me.”

SEE ALSO: How To Break Up With Someone You Live With And Have a Child With

8. Find other ways to connect.

Some people are inherently more friendly and outgoing than others. Negative feelings in a relationship can sometimes be reflected in distant or emotionless behavior. However, there are situations where your partner may not show love in the same way you do.

Consider whether your partner may feel uncomfortable discussing his or her feelings. If so, you can focus on trying to understand (and communicate in) their “love language.” For example, they may like the following ways to provide or receive intimacy:

  • Intend to spend time with you. 
  • Performing or receiving acts of service 
  • Giving or receiving gifts 
  • Physically expressing sympathy (e.g., through hugs, hand-holding, back massages, or sexual intimacy) 
  • Playing games and engaging in activities together improves communication and social interaction between you.

9. Show yourself and your partner some patience.

Don’t try to rush or force the other person to respond. Give yourself a break if you sometimes lose your temper. It will take a lot of time and effort on your part to change the way you talk to each other. Give your beloved the space and time (2) to process your emotions, and from time to time, gently state your expectations and desires.

10. Taking care of yourself.

Dealing with an unresponsive spouse is really difficult. In fact, the tension of a persistently obstructive love partner can affect your physical health. When your SO’s behavior makes you feel irritable or stressed, take some time to relax and engage in activities you enjoy without them. For example, you can:

  • Go for a walk 
  • Eat a nutritious snack. 
  • Take a soothing shower or bath. 
  • Talk or unload, call a family member or friend. 
  • Work on some creative endeavor or  or pastime. Med
  • Do yoga or gentle stretching exercises.

11. Consult a therapist if you are having trouble making progress.

An outside perspective can benefit both you and your spouse. Talk to your SO about going to rz you if you feel things are not improving or that there is so much tension between you that nothing is working. If he doesn’t want to go, try going on your own. A therapist can advise you on how to deal with your partner’s behavior, help you strengthen your coping mechanisms, and even help you determine if it’s time to end the relationship.

Talk to your doctor if you are unsure of where to seek a therapist. He or she may be able to suggest someone who has dealt with relationship problems.

Relationships can suffer greatly if you drag your feet or are unresponsive. It is a type of abuse if your spouse is doing it to harm you or control you. It is important to recognize the problem and be prepared to deal with it.

I want to thank you for taking the time to read my article about how to deal with unresponsive partner. I sincerely hope its contents have been a good help to you.

Przemkas Mosky
Przemkas Mosky started Perfect 24 Hours in 2017. He is a Personal Productivity Specialist, blogger and entrepreneur. He also works as a coach assisting people to increase their motivation, social skills or leadership abilities. Read more here