The emotional effects of ‘Ghosting’

‘Ghosting – Definition – the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication.

Has this ever happened to you? Odds are that it has. Although more prevalent in the world of online dating, it happens to most of us at some time in our lives.

Whether its with a loved one, a friend or a colleague, Ghosting is psychologically damaging and the more vulnerable the person being ghosted, the worse it is.

Ghosting is traumatic. An article from Psychology today explains that rejection of this kind activates the same pathways in the brain as physical pain.

Our social, psychological feedback system and self-questioning can cause lower self-esteem. If ghosting happens to someone who is already struggling with self-esteem, the rejection is even more painful as these more vulnerable people have less natural pain-killing opioids released into the brain.

Those of us who work in Mental Health know that sending people to Coventry as it is sometimes known or giving someone the silent treatment, is emotional cruelty.

So if you’ve ever been ghosted, remember it’s about the other person and what’s going on for them. If you’re the one doing the ghosting, please don’t. If someone has upset you and simply has no awareness of this, tell them! Allow them the opportunity to rectify things and move on.

Ghosting can hold both people involved in an emotional headlock for many years, if not forever. Is that something you really want?

Reference – Psychology Today

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