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When separation comes up, most couples split into two roles fast:

One becomes the Fixer. You want to talk, solve, repair, and close the gap now because the silence feels unbearable.

The other becomes the Escaper. You shut down, pull back, and hope the pressure stops, not because you don’t care, but because you feel emotionally overwhelmed and unsafe in the conversations.

And here’s the trap: both responses make sense… and both make separation harder. The Fixer reaches for connection to feel safe. The Escaper reaches for distance to feel safe. So the more one pursues, the more the other withdraws, and what could have been a reset starts turning into panic on one side and deafening silence on the other.

In today’s episode of Love Shack Live, we're unpacking what’s really happening underneath these two survival patterns and how to interrupt the cycle before “space” quietly becomes distance, drift, or a slow exit.

You’ll learn:

• Why a request for space doesn’t automatically mean the relationship is over
• The most common misconceptions that make separation feel even more terrifying
• How anxiety and depression spike during separation (and why that doesn’t mean you’re “crazy”)
• The difference between space for space’s sake and space with a plan
• Why unstructured space often leads to break-up/make-up cycles
• How to create simple agreements that reduce panic and rebuild trust
• What it actually means to “be okay either way” without shutting down or giving up
• How to become a safer place for the truth, so real repair becomes possible

This episode is for you if you’re in that brutal in-between: wanting connection, needing breathing room, and not knowing how to move forward without making things worse.

And yes, we’ll also remind you of something important: space can be a do-over, not a death sentence, but only if you use it intentionally.

Want help figuring out your next step?

If space or separation has entered your relationship and you don’t know what to do next, Tom is offering a free clarity call to help you get oriented, calm the noise, and map your next best steps, whether that’s together, apart, or somewhere in-between.

Book your call at stacibartley.com/apply.