India, July 17 -- Have you felt like your partner is slowly detaching themself from you? Emotionally pulling away and withdrawing their feelings? But there are no fights, no arguments, just widening distance. Feels like a concept that has always been there? Well, now there is a word for it, and it is called 'Banksying', a toxic dating term which makes 'ghosting' seem much more polite. You do not break up with your partner, but rather put them through a toxic cycle of constant emotional withdrawal, and they are left wondering in the dark about what went wrong. But how did this term get here? The word takes shape after England-based street artist, Banksy. He creates his work and then vanishes without any announcement whatsoever. Why do people do this? Dating coach Pratik Jain tells us, "We are not taught communication (especially in intimate contexts) etiquette in our younger years. When one person is clear that they want to end a relationship, they know that direct communication will lead to a lot of instant conflicts, tensions and drama from the other person. So, to avoid the burden of all these, detaching is a safe way to go about it (at least for the person initiating it)." Dr Pavitra Shankar, Associate Consultant- Psychiatry at Aakash Healthcare, explains that this emotional withdrawal could be considered a form of passive-aggressive behaviour or emotional manipulation. "It's a covert way of expressing anger, discomfort, or disconnection, forcing the partner to guess or interpret the silence. While it may not always be intentional, this behaviour creates emotional confusion and shifts the burden of resolution onto the other person," she says. Even the psychological impact on the partner being banksied can be significant and long-lasting. They may experience confusion, self-doubt, and a deep sense of rejection because there is no clear closure or communication. "This can erode self-esteem and trigger abandonment wounds, especially in individuals with insecure attachment styles. It can also induce anxiety in future relationships," says Dr Shankar. So, what can you do to protect yourself? Pratik shares a few signs you should notice if you suspect something is off:...