Signs of emotional neglect in a long-term marriage

You’re married, you live together, but you’ve never felt more alone.

Confession: "we’ve been married 12 years. on paper, everything is perfect. nice house, kids are great, no big fights. but i feel like a ghost. he doesn't ask about my day. we haven't had a real conversation that wasn't about the calendar or the kids in months. i realized today that if i stopped initiating touch, we’d never touch again. is this just what marriage is? or am i suffering from emotional neglect?"

The Real Life Breakdown: This is the roommate phase taken to the extreme. It’s often caused by a lack of ∫ You’ve stopped "turning toward" each other and started "turning away." Over time, this creates a love haze of resentment where you feel invisible.

The Script:

"I’ve realized lately that we’ve become really good co-parents, but I miss being your partner. I feel lonely even when we're in the same room. Can we go for a walk tonight—no phones, no kid talk—just to catch up? I miss us."