In the last chapters, I explained how parents who abuse or bully, like the “king/queen” or the “nitpicker”, can raise kids who are constantly on guard. In this chapter, I will explain how some parenting styles can “breed” kids who clam up and withdraw into their shells. This communication style can be very devastating for them in their future relationships and marriage.
Why do we clam up?
Growing up in a household in which they feel inferior and helpless, where one or both of their parents consider themselves almighty, where they abuse them to feel powerful or where one or both parents nitpick, criticize, complain, are never satisfied and constantly angry, can break a child’s spirit and make them search for ways to protect themselves.
One of these ways is to hide, to clam up, go into a shell and avoid the world. When these kids grow up and find relationship, they tend to hide at the first sign of danger. When their spouse is critical, they will run away and hide. When their partner say they are not good enough, they will not protest. Most of the time, they will not express their emotions. If you try to get closer to them, they will close the door and refuse to let you in.
The challenge for them in communicating like this is that it makes them miss out on many wonderful communication opportunities. The gist of their communication is, “It is not worth it, I will not take the risk”, if there is even a slight chance they might get hurt. This makes them give up lots, even happy and great things, which makes them no fun to be with.
Since they do not express their feelings (for fear of getting hurt), this can leave their partner very unsettled, thinking “I don’t know what is going on with him/her”. It creates doubt about the strength of the relationship. A partner who clams up will avoid conflict at all cost. Their partner can feel very lonely, separated, confused and disconnected.
Here are some examples of a communicating pattern that avoids conflict and prefers to clam up and withdraw.
- OK
- I don’t mind
- I don’t care
- Your choice
- You do whatever you want
- If this is what you want
- I don’t want to talk about it (in difficult situations)
- There is no point
- I have no desire to share my feelings
Once bitten by a snake, he is scared all his life at the mere sight of a rope.
A person who goes into a shell and clams up is very much in the dark. They walk around fearing everything that resembles pain and this can take the a lot of the passion out of a relationship or marriage.
Notice the way you communicate with your partner. Do you take the offensive, or the defensive? Are you always on guard or do you withdraw and clam up completely? With help, any relationship can be improved and turned into a positive one.
Happy marriage!
Ronit
This post is part of the series Save Your Marriage:
- Self-Regulation in Your Marriage
- How to Save Yourself from Divorce
- Marriage and Divorce Statistics
- The Marriage Institution
- Marriage is the Foundation of Families
- The Unpleasant Side of Divorce
- How to Get Things Wrong in a Marriage
- Marriage and Self Talk
- More About Self Talk
- Facts vs. Meaning in Marriage
- All Men Are… All Women Are…
- When Two Do Not Become One
- Marriage and Money
- Be Your Partner’s Best Friend
- Relationship Between Two Onions
- The Greatest Gift: Stay Together
- Marriage of Singles
- The "Right" Trap
- The Intention Trap
- Best Marriage Quotes that Will Change Your Life
- 10 Rules for Civilized Dialogue
- 10 Tips for Re-Building Trust
- The King and His Servants
- The Nitpicker
- Expressing Feelings in a Marriage
- Don’t Be On Guard
- Don’t Clam Up
- Have Good Sex to Save Your Marriage
- Trust (or The Boy Who Cried Wolf)
- Emergency Relationship Coaching Essentials
- Save Your Marriage with Better Time Management
- Choice Theory Can Save Your Marriage
- How to Have a Hot Relationship
