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Figuring out how to fix emotional distance in a relationship can be painful and confusing.
It’s normal to go through times of emotional distance with your partner. But if you’ve been feeling emotional detachment for an extended period, or one of you regularly is emotionally detached, it’s time to take proactive steps to reconnect.
The following questions are the most common ones couples ask us about their emotionally distant relationship.
Table of Contents
What Causes Emotional Distancing?
There are various reasons why the emotional bond between you may be suffering. Emotional distance (meaning detachment and disconnection) often develops slowly due to unresolved conflict from past arguments or being too busy with work and family commitments to nurture the relationship.
Other more serious causes may relate to mental health issues, such as depression, low self-esteem, or anxiety, making it difficult for people to form close bonds.
Also, your spouse may be emotionally detached due to a self-preservation coping mechanism.
For example, your spouse may not be able to deal with emotions all the time because they had an emotionally abusive family member. Therefore when intense emotions come up, they become emotionally detached and withdrawn.
Many partners who’ve experienced excessive relationship trauma may not even realize they’re emotionally detached.
Whatever the cause of emotional distancing in a relationship can damage both parties involved.
Is it normal to feel disconnected in a marriage?
Yes. It is normal to experience emotional detachment in a marriage. You and your spouse may have different needs for emotional connection.
All couples may go through the vicious cycle of closeness and emotional detachment throughout their relationship.
So, remember, when you feel disconnected from your spouse, you’re not alone.
What are some signs of emotional detachment in marriage?
Signs of emotional detachment in marriage can be subtle and difficult to recognize. Some common signs of emotional disconnection are a lack of communication, frequent arguments, or feeling emotionally distant.
Signs of growing emotionally distant
lack of communication
physical distance
Increased bickering
disconnection from shared interests
excluding
lack of passion
- wondering if your partner still loves you
A lack of communication
A lack of communication is one of marriage’s most common signs of emotional detachment. Emotionally detached couples may communicate less frequently or have difficulty expressing their feelings to each other.
Conversations may revolve around mundane subjects instead of meaningful topics that require more effort to discuss.
It is common for emotionally detached couples to avoid eye contact during conversations since it can be uncomfortable or awkward.
One of the most telling signs that a couple is growing emotionally distant from one another can be seen in the waning frequency and quality of communication.
When couples are connected, they typically have frequent and meaningful conversations about their lives, relationships, and hopes for the future.
In contrast, when a couple is emotionally detached, these conversations diminish in frequency and depth. As a result, long periods of silence or short conversations might lack real connection or substance.
Physical distance
Physical distance is also one of the signs of emotional detachment in marriage. For example, couples may sit far apart on the couch watching television and avoid physical touch such as hand-holding, embracing, or sex.
When one partner shows disinterest in physical contact or pulls away from the other partner’s advances, it can mean the person is emotionally detached.
Hugging, holding hands, snuggling, or kissing goodbye naturally occurs between two people close to each other. However, when couples become increasingly emotionally detached, these small gestures of intimacy often cease.
A lack of physical intimacy doesn’t always mean your spouse is emotionally distant. Still, if there is a lack of sexual desire or affection, you might be emotionally detached.
Related Reading: My Wife Loves Me But Doesn’t Desire Me
Increased bickering
Another clear sign of emotional distance is increased arguing or bickering over minor issues.
While conflict is natural in any relationship and shouldn’t be avoided completely, frequent arguments can take a more emotional toll than you realize.
A lack of respect for each other’s feelings can also point to an increasing disconnect in a relationship. Whereas connected couples can often find ways to disagree without attacking each other personally or resorting to name-calling, sarcasm, or the blame game.
Disconnect from shared interests
Another sign of emotional detachment in marriage is disconnection from shared interests and activities.
Suppose couples used to enjoy hobbies like playing games or going for walks but now spend little to no time engaging in those activities together.
In that case, a lack of common interests could indicate a larger problem of decreased connection and investment in each other’s lives.
In general, couples should pay attention to changes in their relationship dynamic as these could be signs of underlying issues such as emotional detachment within the marriage.
Excluding
Many couples need time apart, and having healthy friendships outside of the marriage is beneficial.
However, if one person excessively excludes their partner, they may be emotionally distancing.
Excluding your spouse can point toward growing emotional distance.
Recognize if one partner engages with people outside the marriage more than usual.
increased work commitments
finding ways to spend time away from home on their own
or developing relationships with people they don’t feel comfortable involving their spouse
A lack of passion
Many couples experience lulls in their passion. A lack of fire and spark often develops slowly before you realize something is wrong.
Suddenly, you might find yourself going through the motions of day-to-day life without really connecting on a deeper level.
Over time, many couples become so used to the routine that they forget to nurture the emotional connection until they’re in a roommate marriage.
In a roommate marriage, your partner’s bids for attention go unnoticed.
Even though it’s easy for many couples to fall into a roommate marriage, it can hurt your relationship more than you might expect. They risk the danger of becoming emotionally detached.
Can a marriage last without emotional connection?
A marriage can, in theory, last without an emotional connection. However, it is doubtful that the relationship will be fulfilling. At its heart, a successful marriage requires mutual respect and emotional connection to create a strong bond.
When one partner isn’t emotionally engaged in the relationship, it can weaken the ability to relate and lead to feelings of alienation and even resentment toward your partner.
In some cases, ongoing patterns of emotional distance may even lead to signs of an impending divorce.
For a marriage to be successful and healthy, partners must feel emotionally supported by each other. The support doesn’t have to be perfect. But, even basic support provides stability during tumultuous times, which can create lasting happiness despite everyday life challenges.
To gain more insight into the state of your marriage, take our free relationship checkup.
Emotional support means
empathizing with them when they feel hurt
celebrating their successes
supporting them through difficult times
showing affection
providing comfort when they are unhappy
building up their sense of self-worth rather than tearing them down
making amends when you hurt your partner
being honest in a kind way
responding to your partner’s bids for attention
reaching out if they feel neglected
being willing to process conflicts
Emotional connections create fulfillment
Without an emotional connection in a marriage, there may be no shared vision or purpose, which can lead to an unwillingness to compromise or sacrifice for each other.
Furthermore, when connected communication is lacking, couples may drift apart as they become increasingly disconnected. In turn, they can’t express their frustrations or share experiences, leaving them feeling unsupported and alone.
Ultimately it is tough for any relationship – let alone a marriage – to survive without some form of emotional bond between two people.
How can couples address emotional distancing?
Emotional detachment in relationships is a common problem that can damage both parties if left unresolved. The key is communication—work towards reconnecting with one another again.
Couples need to talk about their feelings and be willing to listen without judgment or criticism. First, discuss how you can work together to fix emotional detachment.
Being willing to process requires patience from both sides—and often, couples find it helpful to seek professional advice from a marriage counselor who can provide impartial guidance on resolving underlying issues that may be causing the distance.
Marriage counselors can provide invaluable guidance when there’s friction within relationships and give couples the practical tools they need to move forward together as a team rather than as two isolated individuals struggling against each other.
Additionally, prioritize spending time together doing activities you both enjoy—even if only for short periods. And schedule date nights where you can spend uninterrupted time alone, away from work and other commitments.
What you can do when your spouse has become emotionally detached?
Distance and hurt often develops slowly until it’s difficult to know how to stop being distant in a relationship. You might not be as connected as you’d expect due to various factors, such as stress from work or home life, unresolved issues from previous relationships, or even physical health issues.
The first step is to identify any underlying problems causing the emotional disconnection. Recognize that the relationship is likely in distress.
To keep your connection strong, despite challenges, start by talking about what helps you feel loved and connected in the marriage so that you better understand each other’s emotional needs.
Remain patient with yourself and your partner – good relationships take work, but they are worth the investment.
How to repair emotional intimacy
Rebuilding an emotional connection in a marriage can be challenging. Couples can reestablish an emotional bond that will last by working on communication and rebuilding trust.
Start to fix emotional detachment between you:
express your love and appreciation for your partner
communicate frequently
give them time alone when needed
show patience when conflict arises
develop healthy habits together, such as exercising and eating healthy foods
participate in activities that bring joy
actively seek ways to reconnect emotionally—make plans for date nights, take romantic vacations together, or engage in shared hobbies that bring pleasure
Have fun together
When you and your spouse feel happy, it’s easier to have emotional intimacy. Enjoying your life together as a couple is about finding the balance between shared activities and also allowing for personal space.
To make sure you are both getting the most out of your relationship, find a way to share common interests that bring you closer together while allowing each other freedom in pursuing individual interests.
Start by finding something you can do together – like cooking or exercising – that connects the two of you while allowing you to have fun and bond.
Hobbies like hiking, learning a foreign language, or taking online classes can be great ways to spend quality time together while nurturing individual passions. If possible, find something mutually rewarding that allows you to explore new experiences.
Scheduling regular date nights or weekend getaways can help remind spouses why they fell in love with each other in the first place and reignite passion and closeness.
Discover 122+ date ideas, from at-home activities to weekend adventures, when you get the Lasting Love Connection Relationship Workbook.
Have fun alone
It can be useful to create regular opportunities for alone time so that each partner has some private space for reflection or relaxation without feeling guilty about neglecting the other person.
Schedule “me” days where one partner takes a break from their usual routines and spends time with friends or pursuing independent activities – such as yoga, reading, or a bath.
During these solo excursions, it’s important to remember not to feel guilty if the other person can’t join in. Instead, use this opportunity as an example of how sharing moments apart can ultimately bring couples closer together.
Express gratitude
Gratitude can strengthen your emotional connection. When one partner expresses gratitude, it creates closeness and appreciation, allowing both partners to feel valued.
Feeling appreciated and valued is key to a healthy relationship. Expressing gratitude helps the recipient feel loved and helps the giver recognize what they have in the relationship.
In addition, couples who show gratitude towards each other tend to report higher satisfaction with their relationships. One study found that couples who reported feeling grateful for their partners experienced greater happiness in their marriage.
Finally, feeling gratitude toward one another can improve communication between partners, which is essential for any healthy relationship.
Gratitude encourages responding kind-heartedly rather than resorting to defensiveness when disagreements arise.
Ultimately, this leads to conflicts being resolved quicker, reducing stress on both partners.
To bring more gratitude into your relationship, pick up the Appreciation Game.
Prioritize reconnecting
Prioritizing reconnecting in a marriage can be difficult, especially if the couple has started to drift apart.
However, with patience and dedication, couples can rebuild the emotional connection that drew them together in the first place.
The key is to try and look at your relationship from an outside perspective and understand one another’s wants and emotional needs.
One of the best ways to prioritize reconnecting is to ensure you take regular time just for the two of you.
Be available when your partner wants to talk. You can even schedule regular relationship check-ins.
Taking the time out of your busy schedules can show each other just how much effort you are willing to put into making things work.
Remember why you fell in love
It is also helpful for couples to remember why they fell in love in the first place.
Trying to stay close when life gets busy and stressful can be hard work, but reminders of what attracted them can help rekindle the emotional connection they once had.
It could be as simple as watching old photos or videos together or doing something fun like going on a hike or visiting somewhere new. Whatever it is, recreating those moments will allow both partners to remember how good it felt when they were first together.
Take care of you
Self-care is essential for connecting to your spouse and rekindling the flame of a marriage. When you’re unhappy, the relationship suffers.
While it may seem counterintuitive, dedicating time for self-care and devoting energy to understanding yourself can aid in creating a stronger emotional connection with your partner.
Taking time to focus on your own life helps you be more present, better connected, and respond less defensively.
When you care for your own needs, it’s easy to talk to your partner from a place of clarity and equanimity.
Take moments throughout the day to appreciate all the wonderful things your partner does for you, and find activities that make you feel joy.
Taking long walks alone or engaging in other activities that relax and refresh you can help restore balance in the marriage dynamic.
Make sure you’re getting enough rest, eating right, and exercising regularly to have the energy and strength necessary to meet life’s demands while still having enough left over for yourself.
By prioritizing self-care, you can take an objective perspective on issues that arise between you and your partner, allowing for deeper connections instead of getting derailed by minor irritations or becoming defensive.
Focusing on self-care also helps cultivate healthier boundaries within the relationship so that each person’s autonomy is respected.
When both parties are mindful of their individual needs, there is less pressure placed on each other within the relationship dynamic.
This allows for more genuine conversations between partners since they no longer feel like they must fill certain roles within the relationship to maintain harmony.
Self-care is not just about treating oneself but learning how one responds emotionally in different contexts. Knowing oneself helps you have more compassion towards your spouse when bridging gaps between you.
Talk it out
Conversations allow couples to gain deeper insight into who their partner is as a person. This helps build trust between partners, which leads to better communication in the long run.
Talk about things in the moment instead of bottling them up until they explode out of you at the wrong time.
Reframe negative language into positive statements focusing on solutions rather than problems.
Express appreciation for each other whenever possible.
Fostering an environment of acceptance is also essential to rebuilding an emotional connection in a marriage.
Take the time to learn more about each other by sharing stories from childhood or talking through current obstacles.
Re-engage emotionally through meaningful, honest conversations. This could involve discussing aspirations, fears, dreams, frustrations – anything that allows both partners to get to know each other better.
Finally, make sure not to rush into solving major marital issues until you’re emotionally connected again. You’re more likely to resolve conflict if your emotions don’t escalate during discussions about difficult topics.
Give yourself space and time before attempting a major conversation so it doesn’t overwhelm you.
Practice listening
When reconnecting, practice active listening techniques during conversations so that each person feels heard and respected by their partner.
This means not only paying attention while someone else talks but also asking questions about what they said so that you understand where they are coming from better.
It all starts with active listening. The key is to truly hear what your partner is trying to say and acknowledge them without passing judgment or criticism.
This means being present when your spouse talks and not simply waiting for them to finish so you can respond.
The more effort you put into listening to one another’s point of view on any given situation will pay off in spades down the track when it comes time for reconnecting with each other again.
Resolve resentments
Resentment in a relationship can be one of the most destructive issues for couples, but it is also one of the most solvable.
Resentment occurs when either partner has unmet expectations or feels underappreciated and taken for granted.
Importantly, resentment won’t simply disappear on its own. Couples must actively work to understand each other and resolve the issue together.
The first step in resolving resentment is to have a conversation where you can process it.
Both partners should be willing to listen to each other without judgment and discuss issues in the moment. Keep the conversation flowing without letting relationship problems linger unresolved.
Not talking about issues builds resentment over time, eroding intimacy.
When issues crop up, tackled them head-on before it gets out of control so you don’t drift apart. Identify underlying needs and expectations that may be causing the resentment.
When you understand what your partner needs and wants, you can adjust to meet those needs. If there are areas where compromise isn’t possible, respect your partner’s wishes while also expressing your needs.
It’s also helpful for couples to set boundaries to prevent future resentments from building up again. This involves both partners being clear about their expectations to avoid misunderstandings.
Setting boundaries can help ensure that everyone feels respected and appreciated, which can go a long way toward preventing resentment from arising again in the future.
Show empathy
Have empathy for each other.
When someone feels taken advantage of or disrespected, it’s natural for them to become resentful.
However, discovering why resentment might happen and validating your partner’s emotions can be incredibly helpful in restoring peace.
Viewing things from another person’s perspective will allow you to better understand where the other is coming from, creating an environment of mutual respect which is key in alleviating lingering resentment.
Empathy is a tool that can be used to help resolve resentment in a marriage. When one or both partners feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, and unappreciated, it can lead to resentment.
How to fix emotional distance in a relationship with empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It is an essential ingredient for successful communication.
Empathy allows us to take a step back and consider the other person’s perspective when resolving resentment.
Instead of immediately becoming defensive or blaming each other, couples can practice empathy by recognizing that the underlying cause of their disagreement may not be what they first thought.
This helps them identify potential misunderstandings or miscommunications instead of jumping to conclusions about each other’s motives or intentions.
Empathy also helps couples stay connected in difficult situations by allowing them to validate each other’s emotions and experiences.
When one partner expresses, the other can use empathy as a bridge to getting closer; this can help alleviate any underlying tension caused by unresolved issues.
Lastly, when couples can empathize with each other during the conflict, it helps prevent the build-up of resentment. Because they can better understand why their partner has hurt feelings.
Using empathy when dealing with resentment in marriage is a powerful tool for restoring trust and connection between two people who love each other deeply but have different ways of expressing themselves at times.
By practicing empathy in each conversation, couples can become more effective communicators. In turn, you can understand how your spouse feels instead of automatically assuming that disagreements equate to disrespect or apathy.
In turn, this creates a more harmonious relationship where emotional connection and respect take precedence over judgemental interactions based on assumptions which ultimately breeds further resentment within marriages.
Focus on intimacy
Creating more intimacy in a marriage ensures the health and longevity of the relationship.
Intimacy isn’t just about sex. It involves sharing thoughts and physical closeness and providing emotional support to one another.
Setting aside a regular time each week where both partners can sit together and be emotionally engaged can go a long way toward creating trust and fostering a deeper connection between them.
Confide in each other. This could include talking about experiences that have been difficult or even opening up about darker emotions that are hard to admit.
Doing this requires trust and can help both partners understand each other better.
Another effective way of creating better intimacy is through physical touch – hugging, kissing, holding hands, sex, etc. – all these can improve the connection between two people in ways that words cannot express.
Even simple touches like rubbing shoulders or gently stroking arms have increased love and connection between partners.
Build intimacy through activities like
cuddling
touching in non-sexual ways
regular date nights
going out of the house for special occasions
non verbally connecting
taking vacations
expressing appreciation for one another
simply enjoying quality time together away from distractions
Create intimacy through sex
Physical intimacy, such as holding hands or hugging frequently, can also help married partners reconnect emotionally by providing comfort during tough times.
Sex can help you feel more emotionally connected to your partner in a few different ways. For one, the physical act of sex can release oxytocin, known as the “cuddle hormone” associated with bonding and attachment.
In addition, when we experience pleasure with our partners, we tend to feel more connected to them. So, not only can sex physically create a bond between you and your partner, but the shared experience of pleasure can also help foster an emotional connection.
Related Article: How To Be A Better Lover
Get marriage coaching
Ultimately, mending a broken relationship requires hard work, but it is possible if both partners are willing to commit themselves fully to the process.
Marriage counselors can provide guidance every step of the way, so couples don’t feel like they have to go through it alone. After all, getting help isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a clear sign of strength.
Through open dialogue, positive reinforcement, compassionate understanding, and spending time together, couples can create strong bonds that will stand even during life’s most difficult moments.
Book a complimentary couples consult for you and your partner.
Can a marriage survive emotional detachment?
You can fix emotional detachment in your relationship if you are willing to rebuild emotional intimacy.
Feelings of loneliness and insecurity in your marriage are signs of emotional detachment. So, a couple must be willing to work together to create an atmosphere of trust and love.
To ensure success, couples should learn how to communicate better and show affection. It examines underlying issues within the relationship, such as unresolved conflict or unmet needs, as these can contribute to detachment.
One way that couples can overcome emotional detachment is through sharing feelings and emotional support.
Emotional connections could include sharing positive and negative experiences, discussing conflicts and disagreements, validating each other’s emotions, or participating in activities or hobbies together.
These are just some ways that couples can reconnect after experiencing signs of emotional detachment.
Ultimately, it requires a genuine effort from both partners to feel safe enough to express their true emotions without fear of judgment or criticism.
With enough presence, any marriage can fix emotional detachment.
What to do when dealing with emotional distance or emotional neglect in marriage?
Emotional distance and emotional neglect in marriage can devastate both partners, resulting in isolation, loneliness, and sadness.
In some cases, emotional neglect can lead to infidelity in a marriage.
One spouse should feel comfortable enough to express their emotions and initiate conversations about how they feel with their partner. It is essential that the other spouse listens intently and actively works toward finding solutions or making compromises when necessary.
Identify underlying issues that may be causing either emotional distance or emotional neglect.
There might be external factors, such as work or family obligations, that are causing one of the spouses to feel overwhelmed or disconnected from the other.
Or there could be unresolved personal issues related to mental health that affect their relationship dynamics.
When dealing with emotional distance or emotional neglect in marriage, it is also beneficial for couples to invest in activities together to help them reconnect emotionally.
This could mean taking a vacation together where they can bond without distractions from everyday life or dedicate time each day to talk about things other than work, kids, bills, etc.—allowing for a deeper connection.
They can also consider attending counseling sessions together if emotions become too overwhelming to handle alone.
At the same time, the couple needs to set boundaries and make sure not to cross each other’s comfort zones when trying to resolve issues within their marriage.
This includes respecting each other’s needs even if they don’t always align and allowing each partner space when needed so they can take time away from the relationship without feeling guilty about it.
Having a healthy relationship is hard work but worth it.
When dealing with emotional distance or emotional neglect in marriage, you and your spouse can work toward solutions together.
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