Losing Emotional Intimacy: Are You Having Relationship Problems?

 Awkward silence floats in the air during your weekend together. You can’t remember the last time you were physically intimate with them. It could be because of infidelity, or because you’ve grown apart, but we’ve all hit this stage of heartbreak in a relationship that seemed to be working so well.


If you feel this growing separation from your partner, your emotional intimacy reserves in your relationship may be declining rapidly. If you're anxious for that spark and connection you first had, it’s time to work on healing your emotional intimacy together.


What is emotional intimacy?


Emotional intimacy is the ability to express your thoughts and feelings honestly and openly without fear of judgment or criticism. It is so essential to our well-being. Any difference in expectations between you or your partner can create conflicts, as our expectations for emotional intimacy are grounded in our experiences with family and peers. The loss of emotional intimacy can be painful for a couple, but the good news is that it can be restored. It takes the two of you as partners working together, to rebuild your relationship.


Where should I start?


If you have trouble finding the starting point for this recovery path, the answer is simple. We’ve broken it down into a few simple steps for you.


Communication


Communication is the key! Advocated by many relationship experts, and for good reason, effective communication leads to longer-lasting relationships. Simple conversations, summarizing the details of your day or sharing something that bothers you in a calm and non-aggressive way, can completely change the way you approach arguments in a relationship. Remember, it’s not you vs them, it’s the relationship vs the problem.


Empathy is important


It's not just about communication. It is important to create a safe space where your partner feels comfortable enough to share their deepest desires and concerns with you without judgment. 

Empathy involves understanding and acceptance, which allows your partner not to be afraid to be around you.


Dealing with Conflicts


It is natural to experience conflicts at various stages of a relationship and when trying to reconnect with a partner. In an intense fight, you may feel that you need to stay silent, suppress your emotions, and move away from your partner. However, this can lead to emotional numbness. Allow each other to share their feelings about the conflict and find a compromise. The two of you do not necessarily agree, but understanding and accepting disagreements are as good as resolving the dispute.


Spontaneity


According to a survey, daily distress and monotonous life can lead to increased dissatisfaction with relationships. If you feel this is the case for you and your partner, it's time to be a little spontaneous. To keep that surprise element, you can plan an instant trip, a surprise dinner, or something that's always on your relationship bucket list.


Keeping Chemistry alive


In particular, physical intimacy and sexual satisfaction play an important role in maintaining a healthy relationship. Understanding and meeting each other's physical and sexual needs over time can greatly help restore intimacy and strengthen connections with each other.


Talk to an expert


Talk to a partner and evaluate their willingness to seek help in resolving any intimate problems you may have. Relationship counselling has proven to be an effective way to deal with a variety of problems.There are also useful tools such as Emotional Focused Couple Therapy (ECFT).


Writer Gayathri RN

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