Thought I’d start a topic for miscellaneous relationship issues. My idea is for anyone and everyone to raise whatever they like, when they need to get something off their chest when the need arises.
I’ll go first. So, I’ve been married to my wife for over 10 years, together for over 15 years. We do have separate interests in some areas but are on the same wavelength in so many ways - similar politics, ideals, taste in TV/music plus we still fancy each other to bits and have a lot of sexual chemistry.
The issue I have is sometimes when she gets annoyed with me she shuts down and doesn’t respond - in other words the silent treatment. I appreciate I’m not perfect but feel it’s an overreaction on her part and I get v upset and down when she does that. The last time this happened it lasted for 3 days and I felt really low at times. Trying to have discussion with her during one of these phases seems to make things worse.
I’ve told her my feelings when she’s out of this phase and she said that she doesn’t mean to hurt me, that she reacts this way to control her emotions and stop herself getting angrier and saying something she’d regret. When she emerges from one of these phases she’s as lovely as ever and it’s as if nothing has happened, and our relationship otherwise feels strong.
Anyone have an experience of this in their relationship, in either role?
