Relationships require work, a lot of work if they are to survive. However, we are all different and some of us can easily feel "trapped" or "smothered". So what do you do?

An only child, such as myself, is used to their own company and often happy in it. For others with siblings, they may be less intense, and not value privacy as much.

When your partner tells you that they need space, they are not necessarily pushing you away. I say not necessarily, because let's not kid ourselves here, they may genuinely not want to be with you, but if all other areas of your relationship are ok, then it's nothing to fear.

So, if this behaviour is out of character, be careful!

The point is, people who need more space have usually always been like that. You may have lost sight of it, perhaps you're working all the time like so many people today. Just think back to how things used to be.

Having gone through all that, if you decide that this is a new form of behaviour, you may need to talk!

Now every relationship guide out there will tell you that when you split up you should abandon all communication with the other party. This is because your emotions are running high and you may end up saying the wrong thing and making things worse.

However, in an ongoing relationship, and this is something that never seems to get mentioned, a partner asking for more space is not the same as giving someone more space after a breakup.

When a partner wants more time to themselves it's often nothing to do with their partner, in that they are perfectly happy, but for a plethora of reasons they need space. It can be stress at work, tiredness, or that general malaise we can all feel from time to time from the stresses of modern living. They just need time out from everything.

The most important thing in a relationship is communication.

Without quality time spent alone with one's partner, relationships can be hard work.

To maintain mutual understanding, aim to have a date together once a week, in which there are no friends or TV, just the two of you, talking.

By rediscovering each other, you will feel comfortable together, even when your partner needs more space!

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