Hi Jennifer - I sympathise - cave time comes in all shapes and sizes, and I guess when you are living in different places, it becomes more pronounced. NG needs his cave time too, and I guess I'm learning how to subtly pre-empt his desperation by offering solitude - becoming less available myself, at periodic intervals. This is a tough tango, knowing when to do the QT, and knowing when to 'do dark' so to speak.
It is good that you were able to recognise it for what it was though Ain't perspective grand?