I was in a 9-year relationship with someone I believe has a dismissive avoidant attachment style. She left two months ago, very suddenly. There wasn’t a major event or betrayal, just emotional burnout and long-standing issues that had built up over time, including communication struggles and sexual disconnection. She eventually said she “just didn’t want to anymore,” and cut off contact. She blocked me and has avoided any closure conversation, even when I tried calmly and respectfully to open the door. I was blindsided, we were happy and working on things, she left for a trip and came back and blindsided me. She wouldn’t face me, talk to me, but the last time we saw each other she was crying and upset and I said I love you, and she said it back. It’s clear she’s avoiding me because she has feelings, and can’t be accountable and face her own feelings of empathy, shame, guilt and regret for her part in this, things were getting real and she would have had to face all that in therapy. She started therapy a year prior to all this but talked about us (without me and my perspective) and of course was validated and developed her own story and narrative that she lost herself.
Despite that, we had a truly loving and peaceful connection for most of our relationship. We built a stable life together, traveled the world, supported each other through everything, and coexisted as a solid team. We lived together with our two pets, we shared a home and a rhythm. We had rough patches like anyone, but our day-to-day life was good, and we were still saying “I love you” before this happened. We said we appreciated each other and thanked each other for doing things around the house on a daily basis.
I’ve done a lot of reflection and work since. I understand now how our dynamic may have triggered her avoidant side, especially when I leaned in during conflict and she pulled away. I over-communicated initially, and I she had come to pick up a few things, she hugged me and after she left I sent a message saying I love you, and she hearted it. After that she went silent and ai sent too many messages and she sent a cold I’m done, door is closed, let me go message. I’ve grown a lot emotionally, and I just want the chance to rebuild something with more awareness and mutual care. Im friend with her mom and we’ve been talking a lot about it, her and her daughter are the same person almost and she acknowledges that and also has related to a lot of what I said.
I still love her very very much. I believe what we had was real and fixable, and I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through something similar especially where time and space led to reconnection, even in the most staunch, closed off and “done” avoidants. I’m here to learn and to make this work - and to understand what I can do with no contact. (I know all I can do it be patient and hope she comes around, but surely there has to be something more?).
TIA for reading.