Dear Anna,

I see now that you’ve explained why he wanted to take a break from the relationship: once was due to 3 deaths that occurred in his family, and another time was because he felt bad about his studies, and I guess pressured by his mother to continue. Perhaps, when he feels bad about his studies, he starts feeling bad about himself too (perhaps feeling like he’s a failure, inadequate – so a strong negative inner critic takes over him), and that’s why he also withdraws from you – because he feels not good enough for the relationship either?