CPTSD Medicine Blog

Emotional disconnection in a marriage can feel like standing on opposite sides of an unbridgeable gap. The loneliness, frustration, and confusion that come with it often leave you wondering, Is it me? Is it them? Is this relationship salvageable? What am I doing? What should I do?

But what if the experience of disconnection wasn’t just a signal of what’s wrong in your marriage, but also an invitation to turn inward—to begin cultivating a trust within yourself that creates clarity, empowerment, and even the possibility of reconnection to something more profound and steady than ever?

Recognize the Mirror

Emotional disconnection often reflects something deeper happening within us. It’s easy to point to your partner’s actions (or inactions) as the source of the problem, but disconnection is also an opportunity to ask yourself:

• Where do Parts of me feel unseen or unheard within myself?
• What Part of me doesn’t feel safe to fully show up here?
• Is there a silencing Part that isn’t allowing other Parts to speak their truth?

This isn’t about self-blame; it’s about self-awareness. The more you understand your internal world, the more grounded you become in your interactions with others.

Turn Toward Your Parts

When emotional disconnection surfaces, Parts of you might begin broadcasting beliefs they picked up from the messaging you received in childhood like:

• “I’m not good enough.”
• “I’m always too much.”
• “I’m unlovable.”

These Parts often feel overwhelming because they’ve been carrying these burdens for a long. long time. Instead of pushing them away, try turning toward them with curiosity and compassion.

Ask:

• What are you trying to protect me from?
• What do you need from me right now?
• What can you show me or tell me about what is happening right now?

This practice begins to rebuild internal trust—a belief that you can be with yourself, no matter how hard the emotions are, or how scary the interpretations of your worthiness as a human are. You can use these moments in your real life as the site for powerful unburdening work.

Reframe Disconnection as Data
Instead of seeing emotional disconnection as a sign of failure, consider it a source of valuable information. Ask yourself:

• What am I needing in this moment?
• Where can I offer that to myself first?

For example, if you’re longing for your partner to listen, practice listening to your own emotions and needs first. If you want to feel valued, start by valuing yourself in small, tangible ways. Offer yourself what you need first internally, and then see what happens externally.

When we make demands on those we love to care for our Parts, it can be exhausting for our partners, our children, our friends and family. Offer comfort and soothing internally first, and then we can often receive connection externally more directly and cleanly.

Use Internal Trust to Decide What’s Next

When you begin to cultivate internal trust, something powerful happens: You no longer look to your partner (or anyone else) to validate your worth or guide your decisions. Instead, you develop the clarity and groundedness to decide what’s best for you—and for your relationship—without fear of regret.

This doesn’t mean the relationship will always improve or that you won’t face hard choices. But it does mean you’ll be making those choices from a place of self-trust rather than reactivity.

Emotional disconnection doesn’t have to be the end of your story. It can be the beginning of a deeper relationship with yourself—a foundation of trust that empowers you to navigate your relationship, and your life, with clarity and confidence.