Why I Blocked My Husband for a Week (And Didn't Tell Him)
Let’s be real. Sometimes the biggest threat to your nervous system is the person you married.
I love my husband. But recently, his "communication style" via text—let's call it Rapid-Fire Micromanagement with a Side of Negativity—was wrecking my peace.
My body developed a Pavlovian response. Ding. My chest tightened. Ding. My stomach dropped. Ding. My shoulders hit my ears.
It didn’t matter what the text said; my body was treating every notification sound like a saber-toothed tiger entering the room.
I realized I had two choices:
The Loud Choice: I could lecture him. I could explain "boundaries" and demand he change his tone, which would likely lead to an argument, which would lead to more dysregulation.
The Quiet Choice: I could just turn off the tiger.
So, I did something "drop-dead simple." I blocked him.
I didn’t announce it. I didn’t make a speech. I simply decided that I am a capable adult who managed to survive three decades before I met him, and I could probably survive a Tuesday without his input.
The Result? The Quietest Week of My Life.
For seven days, I lived in bliss. I managed the house. I managed the kid. I managed my life. And every time I looked at my phone, I felt... fine.
Each morning, I’d ask myself, "Do I want to unblock him today?" My nervous system would whisper, "Not yet." So I didn't.
The Reveal
A week later, logistics forced my hand. He needed to text me for a pickup. I calmly said, "Oh, you can't text me. You’re blocked. But I'll unblock you for this."
He was confused. "How long have I been blocked?" "A week." "A week?!"
And that was it. The sky didn't fall. Our marriage didn't crumble. He realized life went on smoothly without his constant input, and I realized I had a secret weapon in my pocket.
The Lesson
A boundary doesn't always have to be a wall you build with words. sometimes, it's just a quiet fence you build with action. You don't need to explain your need for peace; you just need to create it.
