{"id":21491,"date":"2018-01-31T13:00:06","date_gmt":"2018-01-31T13:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=21491"},"modified":"2025-07-30T06:32:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T06:32:09","slug":"distance-in-a-marriage-can-create-irreparable-damage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/relationship\/distance-in-a-marriage-can-create-irreparable-damage\/","title":{"rendered":"How Distance in a Marriage Can Damage Your Marital Relationship"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Upset<\/p>\n

Once husband and wife habitually refrain from making physical, verbal, and emotional contact with each other daily, they become used to being physically and\/or emotionally distant from each other. As a result, being close to their spouse feels awkward and unfamiliar. <\/span><\/p>\n

Once you become used to being apart (emotionally and\/or physically detached) from your spouse for long periods of time, trying to reconnect with them is very challenging. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is very similar to trying to lose weight after spending 10 years of neglecting your body and physical health by eating what you want when you want, and how much you want with no exercise at all. <\/span><\/p>\n

Both of these are examples of neglect. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is much easier to maintain a healthy weight or BMI than it is trying to lose it once you have gained it. In other words, it is much easier to maintain 160 pounds by making healthy choices daily than it is to go from 160 to 220 pounds, and then try to get back down to 160. The best choice is to avoid gaining weight in the first place. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Reconnect before it’s too late<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Similarly, connect with your spouse<\/a> physically and emotionally daily before it gets to the point where holding hands, hugging, kissing, or cuddling is uncomfortable and awkward. In most cases, once distance has occurred to the extent that you:<\/span><\/p>\n