Have you ever faced silent treatment?
It is pure torture.
It is painful, dreadful, and by far, one of the most popular forms of abuse.
The silent treatment involves actions such as: refusing to speak to someone, not acknowledging what they say, pretending that you can’t hear them, distancing yourself or avoiding their company as if they were contagious, or any kind of behavior that seeks to make a person feel invisible or invalid.
The silent treatment is a way of inflicting pain without any visible bruise. According to research, people use silent treatment for three reasons; avoidance, fear, and punishment. Whatever the motive is, thanks to brain scans, we can know with certainty that the silent treatment leaves a lasting impact on people’s brains and it shows up as abuse. Renowned educator and certified therapist Dr. Ketam Hamdan uses her authority in the subject to create awareness of forms of abuse.
According to Dr. Hamdan, the silent treatment goes by many different names like shunning, social isolation, and stonewalling. This form of abuse is as ancient as the man himself. People have been expelled and banished for the threat they were for the others. Such radical events have been observed in every time of every era. As a matter of fact it is an intentional act of inflicting pain and has a severe impact on the mental well-being of the one abused.
While shedding light on the use of silent treatment in domestic affairs, Dr. Hamdan says, “Studies have found that the silent treatment triggered symptoms similar to physical abuse. The anterior cingulate cortex area of the brain—the area of emotion and pain—was active when someone felt excluded or ignored. Next time you decide to ignore someone and give them the cold shoulder, remember it’s mean and hurtful!.”
Dr. Hamdan is the founder of Brain Health Center and Managing Director of Annisa Mental Health, a non-profit organization that works with Muslims in crisis. She is on a mission to educate and guide her clients through the process of transformation for true healing and fulfillment. For Dr. Hamdan, true healing began when she started integrating various pieces; her leadership skills, psychology, spirituality, neuroscience, and personal experiences to heal herself. Finding purpose helped her heal and live a more authentic and happy life.
Today, she has acquired a Ph.D. in Psychology and enjoys sharing her ocean of knowledge to demystify the process for others stuck in the same scenario as her. She uses her academic achievements and years of experience with clients to highlight and raise awareness of common mental health topics that require to be addressed by a professional. As an influencer with thousands of followers, she has set up her own league of self-aware individuals who use her regular dose of psychology to look deep within and transform into a higher version of themselves.
You can check out @brainhealthdoc to learn more about her efforts to create a positive impact.
