It happens with many people. Awkward moments of silence in a conversation between two people is common. It is primarily because every conversation topic has an expiry. When it happens you need to find a new topic to talk about.
Silence can mean many things in interpersonal relationships. It's ambiguous. It can express lots of different emotions ranging from joy, happiness, grief, embarrassment to anger, denial, fear, withdrawal of acceptance or love.
An awkward silence may occur if a pause has exceeded, for instance, a length generally accepted for demarcating a subject change or the end of a turn. It may be preceded by an ill-considered remark or an imbalance in which one of the participants makes minimal responses.
It's not that introverts enjoy awkward silences. Introverts tend to need time to think before speaking. This could range from a few extra milliseconds to a few days. Add to that our chronic struggle with word retrieval and our penchant for meaningful conversation over frivolous banter, and it's no wonder we're quiet.
Well, this is awkward. A Dutch psychologist may have uncovered exactly what it is that makes those disruptions in conversation so horribly uncomfortable: They elicit deep-seated, primal fears of social acceptance and belonging.
Oftentimes when someone goes silent, they would like help or to talk but they aren't sure how to ask for what they need. If you completely disappear it may be harder for them to open up and share their struggles. It's normal to be hurt and give them the silent treatment in return.
Sometimes, a person may give someone the silent treatment because they are too angry, hurt, or overwhelmed to speak. They may be afraid of saying something that makes the situation worse. In these cases, it can be helpful for each person to take some time to cool off before getting together to discuss the issue calmly.
Generally give them low-key positive feedback and reassurance. Don't be fake and overdo it, but try to communicate that you're friendly, you like them, and enjoy talking to them. Send out warm, interested non-verbals. Sincerely compliment them when it's appropriate, like if they said something funny or insightful.
Most psychologists indicate that it depends on the situation. When silence, or, rather, the refusal to engage in a conversation, is used as a control tactic to exert power in a relationship, then it becomes "the silent treatment," which is toxic, unhealthy, and abusive.
They are self-reliant.
Introverts are self-sufficient, and it's why they're so quiet. A quiet person's personality is inward, which means they naturally search themselves for comfort. Since they keep a small circle, they develop the habit of self-reliance by finding ways to cater to their needs.
Introverts are very loyal friends.
Once they form close relationships, they are unlikely to give up on those friendships in the face of conflict. Since introverts have to use energy for social interactions, they see the time they've spent on a friendship as a serious investment of their time and emotional energy.
When a woman goes silent, it can mean that she is either trying to think through it or trying to be strong for herself and having been used to how you made her feel awesome when you hurt her feelings. She may tend to withdraw and the only way she would not want to hurt herself more is to go silent on you.
Give space. If you have an anxious attachment style, you will tend to handle distance or conflict by wanting more attention and validation, but your friend may, in fact, need distance to feel better. Try acknowledging your hurt feelings without spending your whole day obsessing over them or demonizing their actions.
However, introverts don't need a wide circle of friends. They prefer one or two close friends, even though they may know many people and have many acquaintances. Despite this preference, introverts are often criticized for not attempting to make more friends, and are often viewed as lacking social skills.
Part of the reason silence is so scary is that it creates a sense of anticipation — or anxiety — depending on what you're hoping to expect. Without aural cues to alert you to what's going on, anything seems possible.
The 7-Second Rule in messages: If a message can be communicated in less than seven seconds then it should not be written down because it will take too long for people to read it. Instead, it is recommended speaking directly with the person face-to-face or sending them an email or text message.
It's the pause that doesn't refresh, the awkward moment that you relive over and over and over after you've realized that once again, you've put your foot in it.
Seek out comfortable people and comfortable places
Introverts prefer to stay in their comfort zones, Dr. Helgoe said, and they also like spending time with “comfortable people,” meaning friends who don't feel compelled to talk the entire time you are together (or expect you to).
One of the main reasons that introverts have a hard time making friends is that they are often seen as shy. People may not approach them because they seem uninterested or aloof. Introverts themselves may feel uncomfortable approaching a random stranger. They may feel awkward or out of place in large groups.
The silent treatment, or stonewalling, is a passive-aggressive form of manipulation and can be considered emotional abuse. It is a way to control another person by withholding communication, refusing to talk, or ignoring the person.