I (20M) have been dating my girlfriend (21F) for almost one year and I know her since we were 12. We have a great relationship overall, but anytime there's a disagreement or tension, she completely shuts down and gives me very short or no answers. I try to be patient, but I end up feeling hurt or ignored.
I've asked her about it, and she says she needs time to process, which I respect, but I don't know how to respond in the moment. I don't want to overwhelm her, but I also don't want to feel like I’m being stonewalled.
Any advice on how to manage this? How can I give my girlfriend space while advocating for my emotional needs?
TL;DR, My girlfriend shuts down during conflict and needs space, but I end up feeling hurt and ignored. Looking for advice on how to balance giving her space with expressing my own emotional needs.