Relationship Burnout: Therapist Reveals Signs of Emotional Exhaustion & How to Recover

• Emotional exhaustion in relationships manifests as numbness, irritation, and feeling detached, often mistaken for falling out of love.
• Therapist Deepti Chandy identifies key signs: irritability, avoidance, loss of empathy, and silent distance, where partners are physically present but emotionally checked out.
• Unlike temporary stress, chronic emotional burnout involves a fading interest in the relationship itself and little desire to engage or resolve conflict.
• Healthy communication rituals like regular check-ins and intentional conversations are crucial buffers to prevent exhaustion from escalating into blame.
• Understanding attachment styles helps explain responses to burnout; open communication about personal restoration needs can strengthen the bond.

Why It Matters: Recognize emotional exhaustion early and use healthy communication to restore connection, not just end relationships.