10 Effects of DISTANCE on the COUPLE

Nowadays, physical and emotional distance is more common than we think in couple relationships, since the rhythm of life unbridled that a large part of the population has, forces them to follow a strict routine that prevents reconciling work life with personal.

Thus, the daily routine can affect the amount of time you spend with your partner, as well as the communication and trust with your partner. In addition, the overload of responsibilities and the stress of everyday life can lead the couple to a monotony that limits interest in the other person. For this reason, in this Psychology-Online article, we inform you of how distance affects the couple, what effects does emotional distance have and how to solve this situation.

Index

1. When there is distance in a couple
2. Effects of distance on the couple
3. How to solve the estrangement in the couple

In relationships there are two types of distance, physical and emotional. On the one hand, physical distance refers to the spatial separation of the two people who make up the couple, without this entailing any inconvenience for the relationship.

On the other hand, the emotional distance is based on a feeling of coldness between the two members of the couple. This kind of distance gives rise to differences of opinion and psychological separation betweenboth of them. The emotional distance in the couple is complex, since it is an affective distance that limits the signs of affection and the empathic communication Between both.

Signs of emotional distance in the couple

The main signs that indicate that there is emotional distance in the couple are the following:

1. spend more time at work and/or friends.
2. Abusing alcohol or other substances.
3. stop doing activities together.
4. Make plans without including the other.
5. Have small talk.
6. avoid social situations with the other's family.
7. Experience the feeling of routine life.
8. lose interest or concern for the other.
9. Run away from sexual situations.
10. Make excuses not to go out together.
11. Act out of spite.
12. feel alone despite being together.
13. make reproaches
14. Show Lack of compromise for the relationship.

If you wonder how distance affects a couple, you should know that it can have negative repercussions on the relationship. Next, we will show you what are the main effects of distance in the couple:

• Difficulty expressing emotions or how each one feels.
• Differences in the contribution of affection in the couple.
• Limitation of displays of affection. In this article you will find information on how to act before the lack of affection in the couple.
• Lack of trust and communication.
• Disinterest for the welfare of the other person.
• Sensation of apathy and loneliness.
• Creation of a distant link based on coolness.
• Lack of desire to want to be or share time with the other.
• Limitation of communication to routine and insignificant topics.
• Appearance of attraction or sexual thoughts about other people.

If you want to overcome the emotional distance in the couple, it is necessary to work on the causes that produce it, with the aim of recovering and improving the couple's relationship. Generally, to solve the estrangement in the couple it is necessary to follow these steps:

1. Identify that there is distance in the couple.
2. Detect complications and/or limitations caused by emotional distance.
3. Adopt an understanding and empathetic posture with the other person.
4. Share more time together.
5. Organize plans to spend quality time with your partner.
6. plan activities with friends and family.
7. Communicate how each member of the couple feels and what they need.
8. Relive the passion in the couple.
9. Integrate elements that promote sexual attraction between the two.
10. remember beautiful moments together.
11. Tell how the day went.
12. Be aware of the small details.
13. Show interest and concern for the other person.
14. Find free and leisure time in which both coincide to organize plans.
15. Carry out atypical activities perceived as novelty.
16. Ask for help when you don't know how to solve the emotional distance in the couple.

In these cases, couples therapy allows you to avoid unnecessary discussions, therefore, if you notice that there is a distance in your partner and you don't know how to solve it, don't hesitate to contact a psychologist to overcome it through games and exercises for couples therapy like the ones you will find in this article.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to How distance affects a couple, we recommend that you enter our category of Couple therapy.

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• Otero, X. m. (2005). Neither with you nor without you: the unbreakable couple. Intercontinental journal of psychology and education, 7(2), 27-42. Available in: https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/802/80270203.pdf
• Vargas Flores, J. d J., & Ibáñez Reyes, E. J. (2008). Differentiation as a model for the analysis of couple relationships. Electronic Journal of Psychology Iztacala, 11(1). Available in: https://www.iztacala.unam.mx/carreras/psicologia/psiclin/vol11num1/vol11No1Art6.pdf