Why Does My Partner Shut Down When We Argue (and Why Do I Struggle With It)?

This was definitely something I struggled with in the first year of dating my now-husband. The first few months of zero arguments or bickering had passed, and we knew this was a long-term thing.

But when disagreements did happen, we quickly discovered that we responded to conflict very differently. I’m fairly expressive and animated, and at times this could feel overwhelming for him. It could remind him of experiences growing up where there hadn’t always been room for his feelings, while there had been plenty of room for other people’s.