What To Do And Not Do When Your Wife Said She Needs Space
The three words that make your neck hairs stand up and your gut tighten into nauseous knots are…
“I need space!”
I’ve talked a lot in videos about this issue, like here…and here. Those videos talk about what to think about her request for space and how to know whether it’s really a request for divorce.
This article is about the PRESSURE she feels and the distinction between the BAD pressure you must stop and the GOOD pressure you must start.
Even if you wind up divorced, you must understand the difference and become a master of applying GOOD pressure – everywhere in your life.
Let me explain this in really simple terms.
BAD Pressure = Desperate, sad, nervous and needy pursuit of affirmation.
When it comes to a woman declaring her need for space…you can’t analyze it or change it. When she says “I’m not feeling romantic love for you anymore”…you can’t argue about it or negotiate it. So, don’t even try. That’s BAD pressure.
Even though she may not know exactly what the hell she means by this, it’s her emotional truth. She didn’t make a choice to feel like this…she just DOES.
Don’t ask her why. She doesn’t know why. She won’t know why tomorrow or, possibly, ever.
Asking her who / what / where / why / when / how questions in order to collect data and solve the problem for her is BAD pressure.
Most of us wizard problem solvers start with questions like:
“Space from what? What did I do?”
“Where is this coming from? What happened?”
“How long have you been feeling like this?”
“Why didn’t you tell me weeks ago so I could have done something?”
“Who are you seeing/talking to if you don’t want to be with me?”
She will experience your anxiety and desperation as weak and unattractive. It will serve as further evidence that getting MORE space is her best option.
I know. It’s almost IMPOSSIBLE to not try to fix this immediately. But that is BAD PRESSURE. It doesn’t help your own sense of strength and it further sabotages her feelings of connection toward you.
So what now..?
I go into that in this video:
Each time we face our fear, we gain strength, courage, and confidence in the doing.
~ Theodore Roosevelt
I picked that quote because in order for you to apply GOOD PRESSURE, you will need to face your deepest fear. And that is, “Man, I must have totally f*cked this up! Not only am I failing her – I must BE a failure!”
Now, you’re also afraid of divorce. You’re afraid of losing the love of your life. You’re afraid of how the kids will be affected as well as your living conditions. your dog and your 401K.
But the deepest fear and shame men have is that they aren’t strong enough or good enough to keep this from happening.
So, let me let you off the hook now. You did not cause all of this. This is not all your fault and it’s very likely this situation was not entirely preventable.
Stop beating yourself up right now. Save your energy for the GOOD PRESSURE.
Good Pressure = Calm, deliberate, confident and unapologetic declaration of your values.
Instead of desperately seeking affirmation from her that you’re not a failure and you’re getting a divorce, I want you to seek a new source of personal strength, confidence and calmness.
This will require you to walk directly into the fear. This will not kill you and you will not die. No matter what the final outcome is with her request for space, you are still 100% YOU – 100% capable of happiness, love and laughter without her assistance or permission.
Instead of believing you are losing half of yourself and everything you’ve known, I want you to slap yourself in the face and remind yourself that you were 100% whole as a man when you met her. It’s from THIS PLACE that you can apply GOOD PRESSURE.
What does that sound and look like?
Instead of questions, it sounds like declarations and looks like personal conviction.
“I get it. I need space too sometimes. Take all you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I love you enough to let you get what you need. And I love myself enough to not freak out over it.”
“I trust you to take care of yourself. And I trust you to maintain the integrity of our marriage as you do so.”
“Sometimes connection requires separateness. We both need to be strong enough to realize that without taking it personally.”
“I won’t stand in the way of your happiness. I want that more than I need you to make me happy.”
A client once said, “Holy crap, I’m not Jesus or Buddha! This hurts!”
I know it hurts. It hurts right now…but it won’t always hurt. And the sooner you learn there is way through this, the better. It’s not just a process of “surviving”…it a process of growing up.
It’s a process of learning stuff about being a man your dad never taught you. You weren’t ready to learn this stuff until this window of pain cracked you open. Your path to long term happiness, confidence and self-reliance must come through other men who have traveled the path already.
I want to invite you onto this path with me and hundreds of initiated men who want to support you…
Free: If you’re serious about building your masculine mojo then apply for a coaching call with us we will help you identify what to focus on and what to avoid to get you feeling confident again.
What do I mean by “SERIOUS”?
- We take YOU and your struggles seriously…because we’ve been there
- We know living in a sexless marriage is serious…and so is showing your kids what a healthy affectionate relationship looks like
- A lack of intimacy of all kinds is serious now and for the long term health of your marriage
- We believe your personal emotional strength and well-being is serious
- We seriously show up 110% to our conversations with you and expect you to be as serious as we are about changing your life
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As Teddy Roosevelt said:
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
Q: What should I do when my wife says she needs space?
A: First—don’t chase. Space isn’t a puzzle to solve; it’s a pressure release. Stop asking questions and trying to fix her feelings. That’s bad pressure. Instead, slow down, breathe, and give her what she’s asking for—calm distance and confident stability. That’s how you start rebuilding respect.
Q: Why does giving space feel so painful?
A: Because it triggers your deepest fear—that you’re not enough. Every man feels it. But this moment isn’t proof you failed; it’s your invitation to grow. When you learn to hold your ground through discomfort, you stop needing her reassurance to feel strong. That’s masculine maturity.
Q: What’s the difference between bad pressure and good pressure?
A: Bad pressure comes from fear—texting, over-talking, pleading, demanding answers. Good pressure comes from calm self-respect—statements like “I love you enough to let you breathe.” One repels, the other attracts. Women relax around steady energy, not desperate energy.
Q: How can I stay confident when I feel like I’m losing everything?
A: Remember who you were before her. You were whole then, and you still are now. Confidence isn’t pretending not to care—it’s knowing you’ll be okay, no matter what happens. That quiet certainty is what draws her back or sets you free.
Q: What does ‘good pressure’ look like in action?
A: It’s when you stop interrogating and start declaring your truth: “Take the space you need. I trust you. I’ll be okay.” It’s masculine composure—leading with values, not emotion. That kind of energy commands respect and shifts the whole tone of the relationship.
Q: How do I grow through this instead of just surviving it?
A: You stop isolating. Connect with men who’ve walked this path—men who can challenge your thinking and remind you of your strength. Growth happens when you replace panic with purpose and start practicing good pressure in every area of life.
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More related articles for you:
The Art of Wife Whispering – A Lesson in ListeningFailing Marriage? How to Create a Better Relationship – by Dan Dore
Save My Marriage My Wife Is Pulling Away From Me
Is This the Reason That Your Wife Is Acting Distant?
The Only Thing That Works To Stop The Pain Of A Failing Marriage
