WITHHOLDING ☼ Emotional withholding includes refusing to listen, refusing to communicate, and denying responsive warmth to a loved ones invitations for engagement. Withholding hurts is often a passive aggressive strategy to show disapproval, to punish, or to avoid emotional honesty. Similar to the "silent treatment" it's an abusive power-play that is selfish, manipulative, and creates relationship gridlock. Ouch! ☼ alanrobarge.com
