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Partner Seems Distant
When your partner is quieter than usual, less affectionate, or seems preoccupied.
30-Second Summary
Your partner being quiet is almost never about you. People have internal worlds - work stress, health worries, fatigue - that have nothing to do with the relationship.
Key Insight
You are hypervigilant to your partner's mood because you're looking for signs of rejection. This means you notice every small change - but those changes are normal human fluctuation.
One Thing To Do
Instead of asking "Are you mad at me?" (which puts them on the defensive), try: "You seem a bit quiet - is there anything I can do to help?" It shows care without accusation.