Relationships are hard, but they can be even more difficult to navigate when someone is emotionally unavailable.
Being emotionally unavailable means a person is unable to connect with their feelings or their partner’s feelings.
Some examples include the death of a loved one, work obligations, or healing from an injury.
Has your partner described themselves as emotionally unavailable, or is it something you’re noticing about them?
Confronting someone about this can be a double-edged sword, says Neblett.
“Pointing out someone’s flaws who may not believe they have any can backfire,” she warns.
“The person may begin to turn things around on their partner and potentially sabotage the relationship.”
It’s important to remember that fixing someone else’s problem is a difficult task and is not encouraged.
That’s something they’ll have to do on their own.
Over time, a person can begin to internalize their emotionally unavailable partner’s behaviors and become depressed.
“Commonly, the partner conforms to the behaviors and carries on in the relationship.”
(More on that later.)
It’s up to us individually," Gatling says.
You will notice a change when you take a step back and release the responsibility.
Consider counseling
Individual and/orcouples therapycan be extremely beneficial to a relationship.
Needing to talk to someone to process your emotions is nothing to be ashamed of.
Ask yourself: Are you emotionally unavailable too?
It takes more work to reflect on your own faults than to point out someone else’s.
“It can’t just be you working and waiting for things to change.”
In exploring that question, you will find your answer.
If you’re on the fence, here aresigns it’s time to end a relationship.
As Neblett explains, it’s time to remove yourself from a relationship when:
