I have never been the “outwardly emotional” type. I don’t react to feelings the way most people do (could be an undiagnosed mental illness but I don’t know). I see most of my emotions as “problems” that have solutions. Feeling overwhelmed? Take a break and try again. Feeling anxious? Find the source and remove it or yourself. Feeling angry? Remove yourself from the situation and move on. I don’t vent or put my problems on others because how does that fix anything? I also have never really experienced any kind of support other than when I was a child (and that was the bare minimum).
That being said, I recognize that other people don’t think like that. Sometimes people just need an ear to listen to or a shoulder to cry on. I understand that and I don’t push my way of thinking on anyone, especially my wife.
Being an ear is not enough with her, though. She communicated to me that I do not support her emotionally. She says it’s the one place I am lacking fully in our relationship as I provide for her physically and financially.
We have been together for 3 years.
All that just to ask:
TLDR: What does emotional support look like and how can I be that for my wife?