(NewsNation) — A communication trend known as “gray rocking” is making the rounds on social media and is helping folks limit interactions with people they’d rather avoid.
Clinical health psychologists at the Cleveland Clinic define gray rocking as “disengaging from emotionally toxic interactions” and it can be accomplished in number of ways. According to psychologists, you can “gray rock” someone by shortening your responses to them, give curt yes or no answers or even just tell them you don’t want to have this conversation.
The idea is that by responding with no emotions in a neutral manner, you make yourself appear boring, like a rock, the person loses interest in trying to engage with you.
According to The Washington Post, the term was coined in 2012 by a mental health blogger and has become a popular strategy for dealing with difficult people.
It is important to note that gray rocking hasn’t been studied in clinical settings and may not be a safe tactic for someone interacting with an abusive person. Mental health experts recommend reconsidering your relationship with individuals who try to rile you up emotionally and advise seeking professional help if you are concerned about your safety.