Do you sulk?

I can't sulk, I would much rather talk things through and have a good shout/cry/scream!
My first husband would ignore me for days on end and it was horrible.

I had a long-term relationship with a man who actually used to go to bed to sulk! He refused to discuss anything or answer any questions, even when I didn't know what the problem was, and he would stay in bed until his pride would let him get up and deal with things...

Ana, you must be a very tolerant woman to put up with sulks of that proportion!

It didn't happen that often, anno, but it was one of the reasons I eventually left him!

I don’t know how it started but I’m in an evil mood,
The washing up is waiting and the doggies want their food,
His Lordship’s watching snooker and the ironing isn’t done,
It’s time I made a protest - maybe sulking could be fun.
So I’ve gone into the kitchen to make a cup of tea,
I’m huffing and I’m puffing and I’m thinking about ME,
I want to watch the telly but it’s in the other room,
I can’t go in there smiling so I practice how to fume.
The doggies have their dinner and I whisper, ‘There you go,
‘He mustn’t hear me talking cos I’m sulking, don’t you know?’
The phone has started ringing and I want to know who’s there,
But that would mean a chat so I pretend that I don’t care.
I need to bang some pots and pans to make my feelings clear,
It’s cosy by the fireside but I am stuck out here.
This could go on for hours – some people know the ways
To do a silent protest and make it last for days.
I’m bored with this already. Can’t do it any more,
Why did no one tell me that sulking is a chore?

PS Only joking because DH made me breakfast in bed this morning

That's amazing Merlotgran. Respect.

merlot, love it!

I don't sulk. Sometimes, however, I go in a huff. For me this is probably a safer thing to do than letting rip in the heat of anger and saying things I regret later. Best to simmer gently for a while alone and return to the fray when calmer but not like Robert Burns' '.....sulky, sullen dame, gaitherin her brows like a gaitherin storm, nursing her wrath to keep it warm'. Not recommended.

I think sulking is manipulative behaviour by people who haven't learned assertiveness - like J07 says, due to a lack of confidence.
How do you deal with sulky people though - just wait till they get fed up of sulking?

Brilliant Merlot, such talent.

G23 huffing is very different frum sulking. I used to do that, storm out in my car and go and sit in the park listening to the radio before going home and finding we had both calmed down. Sometimes we just need a bit of space but only for an hour or two. IMO after that it is a sulk, big time.

jean I think you should just ignore them while they are doing it. Then, when they stop, don't say anything which will make them feel their sulking was even noticed. No comment is best IMO.

A bit difficult if they've been in bed for the best part of the afternoon...

Merlot - Brilliant.

Ana some sulk for days, a mere afternoon is nothing!

Brilliant Merlot I'm going to print that and put it where I can see it! (With your permission, of course!)

Merlot

Very good

I used to go quiet when I was upset by something HE had done or said, maybe that was sulking. Now when he says he's told me many times about the difference between the HD channels on telly, I say "Oh sorry to be so stupid, and can you stop slurping your tea, like I've asked you lots of times." I suppose we're turning into a bickering old couple, but it certainly feels better to say it than fester!

When I asked my ex partner why he sulked he told me it was to teach me a lesson. He really was boring, what was I thinking.

I think I am a huffer too! I cannot sulk because I like the last word..so I have to keep going

DD2 is a pressure cooker...she very occasionally explodes then as quickly as she erupted it's all over and everyone around her is left covered in steam and she carries on as if nothing happened!

I genuinely don't know how to sulk. If I'm angry I usually go and clean something until I've calmed down and then either say something, or, more usually, the offender apologises or at least addresses the issue. (If I've over-reacted to something then I will go and say sorry.) If I've been hurt by someone I usually ponder what's been said/done and then, if I think it's helpful, tell the other person what I'm feeling. In both situations the most usual outcome is a shared hug and then we move on.

I used to sulk but it made me soo miserable that now I like to say what I have to say and then forget about it. I still do sulk very occasionally when I can not reason it away in my head..

merlotgran your poem was really good, you have a talent!

Thank you, cheelu and everyone.