Dear hjanimal:

There are times in any healthy, loving relationship when one of the partners is overwhelmed and withdraws. But if it is a pattern, then it is an unhealthy relationship. You wisely wrote, I believe: “Maybe that’s purely situational, but it seems like it could easily become a recurrent thing”-

and if it becomes a recurrent thing, a pattern, then yes, you don’t want that kind of a relationship. The pattern should be reaching out to your partner when distressed, talk it out, get a hug, spend quiet time together or going out.

Post anytime, with updates, if you’d like.

anita