They don't block you to punish you, they block you to escape the emotions they can't regulate¶

Avoidants block not to punish but to escape overwhelming emotions they cannot regulate, and it is rarely permanent closure.

Key points¶

Blocking is a coping mechanism for dysregulation -- it gives the avoidant control over their internal panic, not control over the other person.
It typically happens in shutdown mode, not indifference: every notification feels like pressure, every appearance in their phone a reminder they could not cope.
Blocking is not closure, clarity, or finality -- avoidants detach first and feel later, so it is survival in the moment, not a forever decision.
The block reflects the avoidant's limited emotional capacity, not the other person's worth.