I 36M have been dating my girlfriend 28F for a couple of months officially. We meet on a dating app in May. Things started off really well. We have a strong connection, lots of affection, and great communication. Recently, though, her life has gotten really busy and stressful. She just moved back in with her parents (about an hour and a half away), is starting a new job soon, and has her sister’s wedding coming up this weekend featuring her bio mother who she hasn't talked to in several years due to them having an extremely bad relationship.
She’s told me she feels overwhelmed and is trying to “find her footing back home". She said she feels bad for taking up space there even though it's her home. We are still Facebook official. She still texts me at least once a day about her day or checks in, but the tone of her messages has changed. Less emojis, fewer affectionate nicknames, no flirting, no sexy texts or memes on IG, etc. She’s not saying “I love you” unprompted like before. Way less communication overall. We used to text each other all day long and sometimes she would even call me while she was at work. I understand she’s under a lot of stress, and I want to respect her need for space.
At the same time, I value affection and small reassurances in a relationship. It helps me feel connected. When those things taper off, I sometimes get anxious and worry about whether she’s pulling away. I’m aware this is my stuff to manage, and I don’t want to put pressure on her or make her feel like she’s failing me when she’s already maxed out.
Her move means we’ll be doing long distance for a while. I know that will take extra effort from both of us, and I don’t want to set the wrong tone at the start.
So I’m looking for advice: How do I balance giving her the breathing room she needs while also being honest about my own needs for connection and affection? How do I keep showing up in a supportive, steady way without drifting into “just friends” territory?
Thanks in advance. I’d love to hear from anyone who’s navigated something similar, or identifies with her. Happy to add more context if needed.
TL;DR: GF (28F) recently moved home (1.5 hrs away), starting new job + sister’s wedding, feeling overwhelmed. Her texts are less affectionate and I sometimes spiral about whether she’s pulling away. I (36M) want to respect her space and not overwhelm her, but I also need affection/reassurance to feel connected. How do I balance the two, especially with long distance starting?