Mako,
For what it's worth my WAW communicates almost normally with text and e-mail, however, in person the wall comes up. Usually the "better" e-mails and text messages are when we are apart for several days (like beginning tommorow). When she or I come home she is a different person. I did ask her about this and her answer was interesting. When we are apart she reminisces about the early days, when we are together reality sets in. Now I know this is not your case neccesarily but I thought I would share it with you.
From what I can gather from your sitch, much like my WAW, they do not neccesarily know what they want.
I was speaking to a buddy of mine this AM. and he asked how long are you going to keep this up? The question kind of froze me. We have to be patient and try to focus on other aspects of our lives or yes we will be consumed (I know I am on my way).
Again the secret is detachment. One last point if I may. In early November, I went on my yearly golf trip with the boys. I made it a point to leave my cell at home. Told her if she needed to reach me she could call one of my buddy's cell. I did this to help me go dark. Well, I honestly think she was struggling with me being so far away and not being available. That was my best 10 days of going dark yet. I wish I could afford to go play golf in FLA. for a couple of weeks, it would make me forget about WAW and the snow for a while.