Being ghosted can be an agonizing experience, whether someone has blocked you on social media or simply stopped replying to your texts.
The act of cutting off communication without explanation is most often associated with matches on dating apps, but it's possible to be ghosted by friends, colleagues and even family members.
Karen Pavlidis, founder and clinical instructor of Child and Teen Solutions in Seattle, said there were a number of reasons a person might ghost someone close to them. These include the "ghoster" realizing the relationship is toxic or the "ghostee" refusing to address conflict.
"Sometimes, it's because they're not interested in the person anymore or they find the person annoying but, typically, it has to do with self-preservation," Pavlidis told Newsweek.