Rabat – Emotional exhaustion; the best way to describe it would be that feeling of running on empty, like a car low on fuel trying to make it to the next rest stop.
It is the roller coaster ride of romance; the highs, the lows, the butterflies, and everything in between.
It’s when your relationship with your partner, once a laughing and loving Bonnie and Clyde, now feels more like tired passengers on an endless journey.
This timeless story is about love and burnouts, when the fireworks fade to worn-out candles and the flame no longer ignites.
But getting to this point does not happen overnight. How does one get there, and how can you prevent it for yourself? Let’s start with the signs, or should we call them red flags?
Emotional exhaustion
First up on our journey of love and self-discovery; communication – or the absence of it – often becomes the first casualty in the fight against emotional fatigue.
The days of in-depth discussions and dream-sharing are long gone. Instead, it’s more like an emotional charades game where partners try to predict each other’s feelings and ideas.
What about emotional availability? Remember when you were inseparable from one another, like two peas in a pod?
The truth is many, many couples get to a point where they are withdrawing into their personal emotional stronghold, rather than putting in the work in the relationship.
“You’ll likely feel as if you simply have nothing left to give to others,” says Carla Marie Manly, PhD, clinical psychologist and relationship expert.
You just occasionally would rather binge-watch your favorite show than go through another round of relationship therapy, not because you don’t care.
“You may feel tired, or your muscles will feel tight or sore, and you feel disconnected from your thoughts or body,” says Jessica McCoy, a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Every relationship has ups and downs, but if you find yourself caught in a never-ending cycle of disagreement, it can indicate that emotional weariness is stoking the flames.
When we’re emotionally drained, even the tiniest disputes can turn into heated confrontations, which leaves both parties feeling angry and dissatisfied.
And then there’s the bedroom, the battleground of passion and lust where desire and tiredness collide.
Each partner buried in their own world of concerns and fears, the couple spends restless evenings tossing and turning.
Last but not least, if you discover that you no longer look forward to spending time with your partner or if once-fun activities now seem like chores, this may indicate that emotional tiredness is starting to wear thin.
Pondering the next move
But fear not, lovebirds, for there are weapons in your arsenal to stave against emotional burnout.
Jimmy Knowles, popularly known as @Jimmyonrelationships on TikTok, says there’s a big myth floating around: that a smooth-sailing relationship means no squabbles. “Conflict will always be a part of even a healthy relationship,” he says in one of his videos.
First thing first is to bring back the communication. Talk to each other, and not only about the important things.
Try adding some humor to those heart-to-hearts, and take a cue from your favorite romantic comedy. Laughter, after all, is the best medicine for a tired heart!
Because you cannot pour from an empty cup, self-care comes next.
Whether it’s a single dance party in your living room, a bubble bath, or just spending time with your furry friend, make time for yourself.
Remember, a happy you equals a happier relationship!
Finally, but just as importantly, remember to be loving even if you feel more like a fading rose than a blooming one.
Here you have it; a roadmap to recognizing the signs of emotional exhaustion in your relationship.
You’re not alone in this journey. Reach out to your partner, and negotiate the ups and downs of love’s roller coaster by reaching out to your partner and relying on one another for support.
