Emotional Distance can Ruin a Marriage

Couples these days are only too happy to bottle up their petty resentments, until they can’t be held in any longer and a huge fight erupts. Also, avoiding your partner can be just as big a problem. Doing things like working extra hours, vegging out in front of the TV, and spending more time doing for the kids can all create an emotional gulf in a marriage.

Here, an excerpt from a Yahoo News article on the topic:

“So the Smiths….decided to keep the peace, and avoid the touchy topics. They communicated less of their true thoughts, feelings, and dreams to each other. As they distanced themselves from each other, he filled the gap by focusing on his career and she focused on the kids. Everything seemed fine, because he was succeeding at his career and she could meet her need for affection with the children. But over the years, this pattern slowly, insidiously, became a problem. Mr. Smith’s job obviously couldn’t meet his intimacy needs, so in a moment of temptation he unwisely stumbled into an affair.”