"What they say instead is something softer, more nuanced: " I just want space." They describe feeling overwhelmed when their partner asks for physical affection, quality time, or emotional closeness. Not because those requests are unreasonable, but because they feel they have nothing left to give. What can look like withdrawal from love in fact often seems more like emotional exhaustion."
"Human beings are wired for connection. Intimacy can be one of the richest sources of support and satisfaction in life. But it also requires emotional resources. When daily life demands too much energy, the capacity left over for closeness shrinks. Recent research describes the concept of relationship burnout, where partners become emotionally depleted by ongoing demands and experiences of stress within the relationship (Thompson et al., 2025)."
Many women in long-term committed relationships report wanting space despite ongoing love and commitment. Requests for distance often stem from emotional exhaustion caused by demanding careers, grief, and daily life stress rather than a desire to leave or a lack of affection. Intimacy requires emotional energy, and when resources are depleted, even reasonable requests for physical affection or quality time can feel burdensome. Relationship burnout occurs when partners become emotionally depleted by ongoing demands and stress, reducing the capacity for closeness. Relationships thrive when closeness is offered through choice, rest, authenticity, and respect for autonomy.
Read at Psychology Today
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