1 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,800 Speaker 1: I started to realize that not being an expert isn't 2 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: a liability, it's a real gift. If we don't know 3 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 1: something about ourselves at this point in our life, it's 4 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: probably because it's uncomfortable to know. If you can die 5 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,799 Speaker 1: before you die, then you can really live. There's a 6 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 1: wisdom at death's door. I thought I was insane. Yeah, 7 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: and I didn't know what to do because there was 8 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 1: no Internet. I don't know, man, I'm like, I feel 9 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: like everything is hard. Hey, y'all, my name is Kat. 10 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: I'm a human first and a licensed therapist second. And 11 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: right now I'm inviting you into conversations that I hope 12 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: encourage you to become more curious and less judgmental about yourself, others, 13 00:00:54,040 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: and the world around you. Welcome to you need therapy. Okay, guys, 14 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:04,319 Speaker 1: we are back for the fourth and final installment of 15 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: our series on the Four Horsemen of the Relationship Apocalypse. 16 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 1: We have been doing this series. I've been dragging it 17 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: out because you know, I just haven't wanted to end, 18 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: and also I've had some really good episodes that I 19 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: wanted to sprinkle in between. But we've been doing this 20 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 1: for a couple months. We're Finally here the final week, 21 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,399 Speaker 1: the fourth Horseman. If you are new here and you're like, 22 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:29,039 Speaker 1: what are you talking about, well, you should go back 23 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 1: and listen to the first episode. We've covered the three 24 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:36,199 Speaker 1: horsemen that come before, and again these are four patterns 25 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:38,920 Speaker 1: of managing conflict and things that come up in conflict 26 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: that have a big part and play a big part 27 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: in if a relationship is going to last or if 28 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 1: the destruction of its existence is on the horizon. So 29 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: let's recap. We on week one did an overview of 30 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 1: the four horsemen and John Gottman, who created these and 31 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 1: came up with these, and then we talked about the 32 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:08,519 Speaker 1: first horseman, criticism, which is an attack on your partner's character. 33 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: The antidote is the way to, you know, heal that 34 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,280 Speaker 1: or reverse that. The antidote is a gentle startup. And 35 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 1: then the second horseman we have is contempt, and that 36 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: is belittling someone. It involves name calling and you know, 37 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 1: just being really mean on purpose. And the antidote for 38 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: that is building a culture of appreciation and respect. And 39 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: then we had the third horseman, which was defensiveness, which 40 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: is self protection in the form of righteousness or proclaiming 41 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: being a victim. Victimhood an attempt to avoid any perceived 42 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 1: attack on you, and the antidote for that is just 43 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: simply taking responsibility. And now we have made it to 44 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: the final horseman, the fourth horseman. Stonewalling. So what is stonewalling? 45 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: You guys are asking, you're wondering. Maybe you have read 46 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: ahead and you know and you just want to hear 47 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: me say it. What it's stonewalling? Well, by the name, 48 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: you can somewhat take a pretty good guess. It's as 49 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: if you are metaphorically building a wall between you and 50 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: your partner. And sometimes you will see this defined as 51 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: a refusal to communicate or cooperate. But it really is 52 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 1: not that simple, although if you're looking at it, or 53 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 1: sometimes even if you are experiencing it, it might seem 54 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 1: that simple. Might seem that way, and often this comes 55 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: as a response to contempt. It's a way to kind 56 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: of shut down when you're feeling flooded, overwhelmed and just 57 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: stuck in a conflict. So this is when your partner 58 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 1: withdraws from the conflict and they just stop responding. It 59 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: can look a couple different ways. It's not just sitting 60 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: next to somebody and not talking to them and just 61 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: ignoring them and giving them the silent treatment. Sometimes you 62 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: can withdraw through becoming distracted by something like a chore, 63 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: maybe doing something around the house. Maybe you start looking 64 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: at your phone, maybe you start paying attention something that's 65 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 1: on TV, something like that, and this, like the other horsemen, 66 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: can become a natural, unconscious just habit. It just happens 67 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: you're in the mode of conflict or this is how 68 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: you do, this is the dance you do, and it's 69 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: just the next thing that comes. If the conflict always escalates, 70 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: it will just become somebody's way of dealing with being overwhelmed, 71 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: and the overwhelmed that is associated when you are, like 72 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 1: I said, feeling stuck, unheard, invalidated, and I also mentioned 73 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: a second ago, I use the word flooded, that this 74 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,280 Speaker 1: happens when a person gets flooded, and feeling flooded means 75 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: that we kind of enter with not kind of, we 76 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 1: do enter a state where we physiologically do not have 77 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 1: the ability to engage in rational mind and we're not 78 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: using logic. That part of our brain has kind of 79 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: shut off, and our threat defense system kicks in, and 80 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:53,800 Speaker 1: that's where stonewalling comes in. And you enter that free state. 81 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: So when you think of the threat defense system, the 82 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 1: autonomic nervous system that happens when we see or feel 83 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: or experien it is danger. We perceive danger the ways that 84 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: we move through that fight flight or freeze, and stonewalling 85 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: is a way to kind of freeze. So when we 86 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,520 Speaker 1: experience flooding. It says if someone pulled the fire alarm 87 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: inside of your body, which can be very helpful. If 88 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: you are, say on a hike, and you start being 89 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: chased by a bear, your body will shoot you into 90 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 1: a state that offers the energy the hormones that you 91 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 1: need to escape the situation. Although I don't know if 92 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: you're supposed to run from a bear. I was about 93 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 1: to say, like you get adrenaline and then you get 94 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: to run away from the bear. I don't know that 95 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 1: you're supposed to run from the bear. Maybe I think 96 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: one of the things you do is you act really 97 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: tall and big. But you know what this is not. 98 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 1: I'm not giving you survival strategies for the wilderness, So 99 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 1: don't take my word on that. You can look that up. 100 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 1: But this idea still plays out right. So this is 101 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 1: really crucial in that threat defense system if there really 102 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 1: is a threat to your safety in that way, we 103 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: do need that to kick on. But when you're in 104 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:05,119 Speaker 1: a conversation with your partner and the alarm starts sounding off, 105 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: we lose the ability at that point to effectively communicate 106 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 1: with them. And we don't necessarily need to run away 107 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 1: from partners in that state. We need to find a 108 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: way to effectively communicate so we can hear each other 109 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: and manage the conflict we're having. So when we're stonewalling, 110 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: we're entering into that free state, and we can sometimes dissociate, 111 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: which you're very much not aware of when you do that, 112 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: or we can just shut down to avoid further persecution 113 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: or just feeling unheard or feeling hurt. And I read 114 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 1: in an article on the Gotment Institute website, which I 115 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,160 Speaker 1: highly recommend that website for all of the resources. They 116 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 1: have so many blogs and just different pieces of information, 117 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:50,359 Speaker 1: and that's where you can get all their books. So 118 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 1: I highly recommend that website. But I was reading an 119 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: article that I found on there, and the person that 120 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 1: wrote this article said, when you were stonewall, and you're 121 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: essentially the possum playing dead, not because you're manipulative, but 122 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 1: because it's your body's response to a perceived life and 123 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: death situation, just like a possum place dead when you 124 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: know they want to find safety. And I really like 125 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 1: this way of viewing it because it highlights a huge misconception. 126 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: Stonewalling is not so much a stubborn choice someone makes 127 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 1: to prove a point or get their way. Although it's 128 00:07:28,840 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: not a habit that tends to be helpful in resolving 129 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: the conflict, it's also not something people are generally doing 130 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: because they in quotes choose it. They're doing so to 131 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: protect themselves. And remember, this isn't happening when somebody has 132 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: access to their very logical decision making skills part of 133 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: their brain. It's an animal instinct, it's a survival instinct. 134 00:07:51,040 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: So something that might be coming up in your head. 135 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: I know this has come up in my head before, 136 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: and I even use this term earlier. You might be thinking, well, 137 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 1: and this kind of sounds like the same as the 138 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: silent treatment. Is that what that is? It's a silent treatment. 139 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:10,920 Speaker 1: Stonewalling is stonewalling the silent treatment. And the answer is 140 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 1: a little complicated because they can look the same. There 141 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: are differences. They're both not very helpful. They both cause 142 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: a lot of frustration on both sides, I believe, and 143 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 1: they can become habitual. I think of the silent treatment 144 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,720 Speaker 1: as more of a deliberate choice by the person doing 145 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: the silent treatment. I can remember the silent treatment being 146 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: something that I did this, and my friends loved to 147 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: do this to each other when we were in like 148 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:41,679 Speaker 1: elementary school in middle school, and sometimes we would I'm 149 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: laughing because I'm thinking about the times that I remember 150 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: this happening, and we would go weeks without speaking to 151 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 1: each other, and then we would forget what we were 152 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,079 Speaker 1: even mad about, and then we would just stay mad 153 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 1: because we can't remember. But then there would be the 154 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: embarrassment of like, well, I know that I was mad 155 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,199 Speaker 1: for a reason, and then you know, it's really hard 156 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: to resolve the conflict at that point. But it's something 157 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: that we did as kids in spaces where our relationships 158 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:06,640 Speaker 1: weren't We didn't have the skills and we didn't have 159 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,199 Speaker 1: the brain capacity, and we hadn't learned enough about healthy 160 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:14,839 Speaker 1: relationships and communication and all that to really move through 161 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: having your feelings heard or being upset about something, and 162 00:09:17,720 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: so we would choose the silent treatment to get our 163 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,839 Speaker 1: way or get attention, or prove a point. The silent treatment, 164 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:28,319 Speaker 1: when I think of those situations, was not used as 165 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: a way to disengage from an overwhelming situation. It was 166 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 1: more of a punishment to prove a point, like I said, 167 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: and it was a very conscious and intentional refusal to 168 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:40,079 Speaker 1: acknowledge or speak to the person that I was giving 169 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 1: that to. What it's interesting though, is our choice to 170 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: use the silent treatment can actually cause the other person, 171 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: involve the person weren't giving the silent treatment to to 172 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: become flooded themselves. So we're not being flooded, and then 173 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: we stonewall, we cause flooding towards that other person because 174 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: of the nature of how silent treatment can just like 175 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,839 Speaker 1: ca person, for lack of a better term, to feel 176 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: crazy because you just won't speak to them, and there's 177 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: no there's no rationalizing with that person at that point 178 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:13,079 Speaker 1: because what you've chosen to do is irrational, and so 179 00:10:13,320 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: that flooding can still happen, and then that can come 180 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: out in different ways for that person. But the person 181 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 1: doing the silent treatment isn't doing that out of being flooded. 182 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: Most of the time, they're doing that deliberately on purpose, 183 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:26,920 Speaker 1: they had made that choice, and I think just an 184 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: easy way to say the difference is the silent treatment 185 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:33,199 Speaker 1: appears very much more intentionally hurtful, while stonewalling can be hurtful. 186 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:37,679 Speaker 1: It's more of a frantic, yet outwardly facing calm, but 187 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: inwardly facing frantic effort at self preservation and survival. And 188 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:45,199 Speaker 1: it can be argued, I think, depending on who you're 189 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:48,440 Speaker 1: talking to, and you know, I'm not completely sold on 190 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: this either, but it can be argued that silent treatment 191 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 1: is also an indicator of flooding for that person, the 192 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: person that's doing it. And I can hear and understand 193 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 1: the argument for this, because when the brain thinks rational 194 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: on somebody wouldn't choose to ignore someone to get what 195 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: they would want. But I still think the jury can 196 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: be out on that because there is a lot of 197 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: nuance here, and I think somebody can still deliberately choose 198 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: that out of a manipulative, immature decision making situation. But 199 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:18,880 Speaker 1: when it comes down to it, it doesn't really matter 200 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 1: as much because the consequences and the solution to both 201 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:25,080 Speaker 1: silent treatment and stonewalling are going to be basically the same. 202 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: I used to be a pretty classic stonewaller in conflict, 203 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: and maybe it came from my practice of the silent 204 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: treatment as a child's I don't know. I think I 205 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 1: had more to do with the relationship I was in. 206 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: But when I was in a certain relationship years ago 207 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:49,119 Speaker 1: at a partner who would very very often use criticism 208 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 1: and contempt when we would have conflict, and I would 209 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,080 Speaker 1: get to a point where I knew nothing I said 210 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,160 Speaker 1: would make a difference, and I would feel very much 211 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,079 Speaker 1: trapped in the conversation with no way out. Even if 212 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:03,080 Speaker 1: I were to agree with this person, there would still 213 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,679 Speaker 1: be something wrong with me agreeing with them, And so 214 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,559 Speaker 1: what I started to do is I would just not speak. 215 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:14,239 Speaker 1: I would become very quiet. I remember trying to process 216 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 1: what to say, but also feeling paralyzed as if I 217 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:20,319 Speaker 1: couldn't come up with anything. And then, of course this 218 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,240 Speaker 1: made my partner more outraged, and things would escalate, and 219 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 1: then he would kind of come at me louder and 220 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: stronger and more hurtful, which would then cause more franticness 221 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: inside of me and more chaos inside of me, and 222 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: so I would just completely shut down in order to 223 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:39,800 Speaker 1: escape that situation. And it's important to note here that 224 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:44,720 Speaker 1: I am not somebody who is generally at a loss 225 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: for our words. But during these conversations, it started to 226 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:51,319 Speaker 1: feel like nothing I said mattered or anything I said 227 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,319 Speaker 1: would make things worse. So it was my way of 228 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:58,559 Speaker 1: diffusing the situation, although not one time was it successful, 229 00:12:58,600 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 1: because it created another issue, part of the issue in 230 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: that relationship, which it did end, And you could have 231 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:08,680 Speaker 1: probably predicted that if you saw the way we fought. 232 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: There was no rationalization with my partner either, so when 233 00:13:13,960 --> 00:13:17,320 Speaker 1: I calmed down, my partner still was not able to 234 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: calm down unless hours, any sometimes even days had passed, 235 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: So no matter what I did, I could get out 236 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: of the situation. But I wasn't going to change my 237 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: partner's behavior, and I couldn't do that, and that essentially 238 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: led to part of the demise of the relationship. And 239 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: now I still get a little jumbled. Before this relationship, 240 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 1: this really wasn't a thing that would happen in real 241 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:41,839 Speaker 1: conflict between people outside of me giving the silent treatment 242 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: to my friends in middle school. But now when I 243 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: have conflict, I still can get a little jumbled, and 244 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: part of that comes from just the trauma of some 245 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: of those arguments and how long it lasted, and it 246 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:58,199 Speaker 1: was very pervasive. But now that I'm in a healthy relationship, 247 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 1: the difference is even when I do get jumbled and 248 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:02,960 Speaker 1: I am at a loss for words or I don't 249 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: really know what I want to say, I'm able to 250 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: ask for space and time to process my thoughts. And 251 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: I'll often say to Patrick, who's my fiance, just still 252 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:13,040 Speaker 1: weird for me to say we got engaged like three 253 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 1: weeks ago, or anybody I'm talking to, I'm able to 254 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:20,720 Speaker 1: say something like, hey, I'm going to respond, I just 255 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 1: need a minute to process and decide what I want 256 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 1: to say. Just give me a second. And when you're 257 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: in a healthy relationship, most of the time that's going 258 00:14:30,920 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: to be met with understanding and patience and care. And 259 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 1: that was not the case before. If I would have 260 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 1: said that, he would have probably just filled the space 261 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: of me thinking of brating me even more with probably 262 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,000 Speaker 1: more contempt. But like I said in the beginning of 263 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,480 Speaker 1: this episode, this often is a response to a lot 264 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: of that contempt that then floods the body and it 265 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: makes you feel like there is I mean, there is 266 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 1: an emotional threat there. It makes you feel like I 267 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 1: got to get out of this. I'm not going to 268 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 1: run from this bear, but I'm gonna shut down so 269 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: I can at some point kind of like pretend that 270 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:07,240 Speaker 1: this isn't happening if you're actually dissociating. But also it's 271 00:15:07,320 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: like almost like waving that white flag of there's nothing 272 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: I can do to make this better at this point, 273 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:14,520 Speaker 1: so I'm just going to be quiet and I hope 274 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:17,800 Speaker 1: that at some point this just passes. I know sometimes 275 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: that was the thought in my head, even though the 276 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: part of me that was rational that wasn't there at 277 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,320 Speaker 1: that moment was saying, that's not going to help solve this. Now. 278 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: Like I said in the beginning, and like I said 279 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: on every one of these episodes, there's a good part. Yes, 280 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,239 Speaker 1: this might be something that is prevalent in your relationship, 281 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: but there's also an antidote, and if both partners are 282 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 1: willing to experiment and play with and invite in this antidote, 283 00:15:41,920 --> 00:15:43,600 Speaker 1: you can move through and learn how to manage your 284 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:46,800 Speaker 1: conflict better. Because again, none of this is about getting 285 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: rid of conflict. That's not why I'm even focusing on that. 286 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: We're really focusing on how it is managed we're all 287 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,240 Speaker 1: going to have conflict. It's very helpful. It's very healthy 288 00:15:56,280 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 1: to have conflict. It actually helps you learn about your partner. 289 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: It's a way to express needs. It's great. We have 290 00:16:04,320 --> 00:16:06,680 Speaker 1: to have healthy ways of managing it. And so if 291 00:16:06,760 --> 00:16:09,120 Speaker 1: you would like to manage it well, you can invite 292 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: in the antidote for the fourth horseman stonewalling. And so 293 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: before we get to that, I'm going to review the 294 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: antidotes that I reviewed at the top of this episode 295 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,920 Speaker 1: for criticism, the gentle startup for contempt, building a culture 296 00:16:21,960 --> 00:16:28,000 Speaker 1: of appreciation and respect, defensiveness, accept responsibility, and now stonewalling. 297 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: Instead of withdrawing to avoid the conflict, the antidote is 298 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 1: to self soothe. Now, if we want to start to 299 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: break the cycle of getting to the flooded state just 300 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:43,840 Speaker 1: on its own and then engaging in stonewalling, it could 301 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 1: be helpful to look at some of the warning signs 302 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: that show up when someone's beginning to be flooded. And 303 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 1: these are coming straight from Love as an Action Verb, 304 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: a book by Laura Silverstein, and I'm just going to 305 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:59,120 Speaker 1: read through some of the things that show up when 306 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: flooding is is about to take place or you're actually 307 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 1: in it, or it's creeping up on you. So your 308 00:17:05,520 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: heart rate begins to rise. You might start holding your breath, 309 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: your breath changes it's your regular You might start taking 310 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: light breaths. You aren't able to listen as well as 311 00:17:15,800 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: you usually do. Feels like there's almost like something like 312 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:22,600 Speaker 1: a roadblock that gets in your ears that you can't 313 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: stay with what your partner's saying, or kind of like 314 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:31,399 Speaker 1: track getting confused and having trouble finding words. Voice or 315 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: tone gets louder and in has an edge on it. 316 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,199 Speaker 1: You feel defensive, right, so that third horseman comes in 317 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 1: and you're defensive on what's being said straight from the gate. 318 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,879 Speaker 1: Your muscles tense. You feel kind of like that crazy 319 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 1: feeling of deer in the headlights, of like oh, I 320 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,120 Speaker 1: don't know what to say, like what are you talking about? 321 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:54,880 Speaker 1: Which is very kind of confused, shocked, kind of like empty. 322 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,640 Speaker 1: Your fists might clench, your teeth might grind, your facial 323 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:02,960 Speaker 1: muscles might constrict your jaw or your brow might tighten, 324 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:06,160 Speaker 1: your shoulders tighten a lot of times, you might start 325 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: to feel even nauseous or lightheaded. So if you notice 326 00:18:10,320 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: any of those happening, especially a combination of them. It 327 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:15,720 Speaker 1: could be a good time to call a time out 328 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 1: so then you can bring your arousal back down to 329 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:23,280 Speaker 1: a baseline and bring that calmness and that safety in 330 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 1: where then your logic brain and your rationale can kick 331 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 1: back on. It could also be a really good time 332 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 1: when you notice some of those to say, hey, I'm 333 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,880 Speaker 1: starting to feel really tense. I notice that my jaws clenching, 334 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:38,920 Speaker 1: or I'm not able to listen very well right now, 335 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 1: where my chest is really tight right now, and I 336 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,119 Speaker 1: feel like this is just escalating. So why don't we 337 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:46,720 Speaker 1: take a twenty minute break and let's meet back in 338 00:18:46,720 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 1: the kitchen at five point forty five. And the thing 339 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,159 Speaker 1: here is you're asking like, hey, why don't we do this? 340 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 1: And you're asking for your partners like, hey, can we 341 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:57,119 Speaker 1: agree on this? Even if your partner refuses, you're allowed 342 00:18:57,119 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 1: to take that break. You can say something like, hey, 343 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 1: I see that you don't want to do what I propose, 344 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 1: and you kind of want to finish this now. I 345 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 1: know what I need is that to have a productive 346 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:09,160 Speaker 1: discussion with you, I'm gonna need to take a break 347 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:11,880 Speaker 1: so I can just calm my body down and clear 348 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:15,120 Speaker 1: my head. For a little bit. So I'm gonna go 349 00:19:15,240 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: do that and I'll be back here in twenty minutes, 350 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 1: and I hope that you're here and we can continue this. 351 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:25,160 Speaker 1: Then that might even force your partner, because you're disengaging, 352 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 1: might force your partner to engage in some self soothing, 353 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 1: even if they didn't initially agree to it. Right because 354 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: you've gone off, maybe they start to like write their 355 00:19:34,359 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 1: thoughts down, or they start to pace, or they start 356 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:40,439 Speaker 1: to anything. All of those things can help them just 357 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,399 Speaker 1: self soothe, calm back down, take a break from the 358 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 1: back and forth, and just sit or move if that's 359 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 1: what's helpful too. I think with self soothing what's really 360 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 1: helpful and those really tense conversations, because what we do 361 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: is with a lot of the things that I said, 362 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:57,160 Speaker 1: you can see our muscles tense up, our neck titans, 363 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: we scrunch our brows or jog gets tight. We need 364 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:03,080 Speaker 1: to loosen up and release some of that and that energy. 365 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,919 Speaker 1: And so something that is very helpful is just shaking 366 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: our body out, Like whether it's I'm sitting here as 367 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 1: I'm saying this, I'm just like shaking my hands back 368 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,479 Speaker 1: and forth or doing some light stretches, touching your toes, 369 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:16,600 Speaker 1: maybe doing a couple of jumping jacks, honestly can be 370 00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:19,120 Speaker 1: really helpful just to loosen everything up. So that's something 371 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:20,680 Speaker 1: that you can do when you go and you take 372 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: your break. And when I say self soothing is the antidote, 373 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 1: it can be whatever works for you. I'm not giving 374 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 1: you a list to choose from necessarily, because self soothing 375 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: can be different for all kinds of people. I always 376 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 1: say something that self soothing is something that just like 377 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 1: feels good. It just kind of like allows you to 378 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,120 Speaker 1: take that big exhale and let that breath that you've 379 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:46,400 Speaker 1: been holding on too tight just release. So it can 380 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 1: be you lying in your bed comfortably, just lying there, 381 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:52,880 Speaker 1: maybe listening to a really calming song. It can be 382 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 1: going and standing in front of the freezer and feeling 383 00:20:56,160 --> 00:20:58,880 Speaker 1: that rush of coolness on your face. It can be 384 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: washing your face. It can be you know, taking a shower. 385 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,560 Speaker 1: It can be doing a couple of laps walking around 386 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 1: the house. It can be getting in your favorite yoga pose, 387 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,000 Speaker 1: doing some cat cows, just something that allows you to 388 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 1: again take that big exhale so you can step back 389 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 1: into that place where all of your brain gets to 390 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:23,479 Speaker 1: be accessed, not just the part that's like all our 391 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 1: energy has to be focused on staying alive. Because while 392 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:29,440 Speaker 1: it feels like you and your body might be telling 393 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:31,959 Speaker 1: you threat threat threat threat threat danger danger danger, you're 394 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 1: gonna die, you're not gonna die. You just don't have 395 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:37,879 Speaker 1: the ability for your brain to let you know that 396 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:39,400 Speaker 1: at that point. So we got to bring that back 397 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 1: in because there's different rules, guys. There are different rules 398 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: when you're on a hike, when there's a bear chasing you, 399 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:48,240 Speaker 1: and when you're just out there and there's some like 400 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 1: cute squirrels jumping around. There's some different rules, and we 401 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:54,919 Speaker 1: need if we are in the space where there's just 402 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: some squirrels, we need the rules that apply to just 403 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:02,320 Speaker 1: the squirrels. Don't need the lack of rules that apply 404 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:06,200 Speaker 1: when they're a bear chasing you. So there you have it, 405 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 1: the fourth horsemen of the relationship Apocalypse. And again I 406 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 1: said earlier, the Gotman website search Gotman Institute on Google 407 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,439 Speaker 1: or wherever you search things, and I can link their 408 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: website in the show notes for you too, so you 409 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,440 Speaker 1: can just click on it. I highly recommend it. There's 410 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,400 Speaker 1: tons of resources, tons of articles, tons of blogs, tons 411 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:32,920 Speaker 1: of books, all of their books. I haven't read them all, 412 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,119 Speaker 1: but I imagine if John Gotman has something to do 413 00:22:35,160 --> 00:22:37,160 Speaker 1: with it, they're going to be good. So I highly 414 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 1: recommend if you want more of this because I gave 415 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 1: you very kind of beginner level condensed versions of all 416 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 1: these things. Go there and that's a great starting place. 417 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: And you can actually even search too. If you're looking 418 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 1: for a therapist or a relationship therapist, you can be 419 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 1: trained by the Gotmans and the Gotman Institute. There's a 420 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:58,639 Speaker 1: specific training that couple therapists and family therapists go through, 421 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:01,960 Speaker 1: and so you can look for that. If you are 422 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,280 Speaker 1: noticing some of these things come up in your relationships, 423 00:23:04,560 --> 00:23:06,880 Speaker 1: you can look for that when you're looking for a therapist, 424 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 1: and you can say like, hey, do you know about this, 425 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:10,879 Speaker 1: or do you know somebody that does know about this 426 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: and use this as a guide to some of their practices. 427 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:16,960 Speaker 1: So can't recommend it enough. Thank you for being on 428 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,159 Speaker 1: this journey with me. I've gotten some good feedback that 429 00:23:19,240 --> 00:23:23,200 Speaker 1: this was really helpful information, although some of it wasn't 430 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:28,359 Speaker 1: just like these big, huge eye opening revelations, These really simple, 431 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 1: digestible things that John Gotman has come up with can 432 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:36,359 Speaker 1: be very very very transformative, really, so I've gotten some 433 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:38,200 Speaker 1: good feedback. I'm glad that you guys have enjoyed this. 434 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 1: I've loved refreshing myself with it as well. So there 435 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,679 Speaker 1: you have it wrapped up on the Four Horsemen. I 436 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,199 Speaker 1: will be back with you guys on Wednesday for Couch Talks. 437 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: If you are not familiar with what that is is 438 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:55,080 Speaker 1: the bonus episode of You Need Therapy, where I answer 439 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: questions that you guys send to me and you can 440 00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:00,200 Speaker 1: send those to Katherine at You Need Therapy podcast dot com. 441 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 1: So you guys can send me questions about anything and 442 00:24:02,880 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: then I might choose it and answer it on the podcast. 443 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:08,680 Speaker 1: I always keep them anonymous, so you don't have to 444 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:11,399 Speaker 1: worry about that. You can feel very safe sending in 445 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: your questions. But if you have any specific to this episode, 446 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:18,120 Speaker 1: any of the Four Horsemen episodes, or just anything, send 447 00:24:18,119 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: them my way. You can follow me at cat dot 448 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:24,159 Speaker 1: defada and at You Need Therapy Podcasts on Instagram, and 449 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: I hope you guys have the day you need to have. 450 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:30,040 Speaker 1: I will be back with you Wednesday for Cash Talks