Learning from yesterday, Living for today!

[Ambivalent]

Soon as I read that he said he needed space to "counter" your needs, my thoughts went to aha. This is going to be a huge hurdle .

You are aware of your passive aggression, is he aware of his? Being aware of this is 3/4's the battle.

The pattern behind it , the fear or hurt that causes it is the area which needs to be addressed. The sooner the better, for resentment builds , and it is a former pattern.

Honesty is the only way to keep this from reoccurring. How to be honest with tact is going to be a challenge. For just being honest can also create it's own issues. Such a balance to keep on an already precarious walk.

Have you found the book " His Needs Her Needs " ? It is one that if you guys read it together, may bring up some places for discussion. You can ask each other if the things mentioned/listed pertain to each other? It could be a time where once a week you guys cuddle on the couch with some coffee/cocoa and read. Perhaps set a beginning and ending time and take notes. That way if the buzzer goes off, you have where your discussion left off.

Then reward yourselves with something new or different. Would he or you be able to try this?