Dear Eve:

If he expressed anger at you but did not lash out, that would have been fair. But if he lashed out, that is, mistreated you by yelling or using words so to hurt you, than he was the one who needed to apologize.

We don’t do well with aggression- scared of  it.  So, if he indeed displayed aggression toward you, then no wonder you needed space. And you wouldn’t need to apologize for needing space, needing distance from an aggressive person.

On the  other hand, if the “tough love” you mentioned, that is trying “to motivate him” by being aggressive with him, that would be something for you to apologize for, after you realize (if you do) that aggression does not motivate except in cases of extreme emergencies. Aggression demotivates, destroys.

anita