@scott.austin.martin: Why do you get defensive when your wife tells you how she feels? Because you may not actually be hearing her feelings. You may be hearing an accusation. She says, “I felt alone when you didn’t check in.” Somewhere between her words and your nervous system, it becomes: “You failed. You’re a bad husband. You’re not enough.” Now you are no longer listening to understand her. You are listening for evidence that you are not the bad guy. So you explain. Correct the details. Tell her what you meant. Point out what she did. Or shut the conversation down. And even if everything you say is factually correct, she is still left alone with the original hurt. The goal is not to never feel defensive. The goal is to notice the defense coming online without letting it take over. Try this: “I can feel myself wanting to explain this right now, but I want to understand what this was like for you first.” That is emotional capacity. #relationships #menscoach #relationshiptips #communicationtips
It’s so exhausting. It’s a never ending loop. Nothing ever improves.
2026-08-15 03:42:47
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iam_crystalita :
The defensiveness is a symptom of the shame wound.
2026-08-23 12:50:12
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SaltyCrow :
Isn't that a mental illness of some kind though? Person 1 says words. Person 2 doesn't hear the actual words, but instead makes up a self centered story (again, not based on the actual words). The Story then pisses them off and they lash out. That just doesn't sound normal to me.
2026-08-11 19:19:16
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coocoomenthu :
Ive noticed that because a lot of men can't name or understand their emotions, they seem to think they aren't having any...
2026-08-11 20:44:12
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PutTheCandleBack :
his defensiveness is burning our relationship to the ground.
2026-08-11 19:35:53
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Flash123 :
I hear you, and I know my husband needs to work on his emotional capacity. But sometimes I think he knows exactly what he is doing. I feel he is deliberately misunderstanding me or acting hurt because he doesn’t want to acknowledge my feelings.
2026-08-14 15:46:39
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Âmes :
he never dose
2026-08-31 05:09:16
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Mar7112 :
His fyp immediately
2026-08-13 05:55:44
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Twila | Bookkeeper 🇨🇦 :
Stay single
2026-08-30 20:23:25
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Nth :
that's textbook my husband
2026-08-30 18:38:22
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CharityValentine :
“Another strike against me” or “o can’t do anything right” is what I hear anytime I try to share a thought or feeling or need or want
2026-08-26 20:02:19
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iwaslikeameliooo :
My partner thinks to apologize is to deny his reality. He thinks the defensiveness is necessary and self protection. He met with you and did great for a month after and is now worse than ever
2026-08-11 20:12:38
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Under The Surface by Katja 🌸 :
and she becomes also responsible for HIS feelings... poor boy...
2026-08-11 19:53:41
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Lost Marbles Crochet :
You hear the attack and not the bid for connection
2026-08-13 00:03:11
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Justyna Poserina :
I have been trying to communicate this to my husband for ages. I want to discuss what I brought up. Not my tone, not examples, not defensive language
2026-08-12 05:17:01
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Mai :
This is such a destructive pattern. And so heart breaking 💔
2026-08-23 20:09:08
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Amy :
I hear all you’re saying. I do! But hear me out… This all boils down to empathy and concern for others, does it not?! It seems this “lack of capacity” characterization is too much of an excuse. The fact that a man is fully capable of empathy, understanding, and even advocation on my behalf in ANY circumstance EXCEPT when I dare to mention hurt caused by his actions, PROVES to me that the problem here is self-absorption and insecurity, NOT lack of capacity. —- Once again, we are coddling men with excuses instead of holding them accountable, as women are held, and finally raising the bar! —- How am I wrong?
2026-08-12 02:59:08
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Yesi :
So how do we deal with men that are like this because even if we tell him about this video, they will take it offensive
2026-08-26 19:50:24
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🇺🇸🇧🇿IamBzequeen🇧🇿🇺🇲 :
worse part nd most draining is telling ur partner same thing over nd over nd every time instead of hearing me he takes it as an attack nd thats when I boil over nd lose it because how I respond to his emotional needs better than he cares bout mine I find it so damm selfish😒 like how me sharing my feelings become bout him nd then I am told to stop talking to shut it down leaving me same way i do never fixed just swept under a rug then he wonders why I snap at him at times
2026-08-12 23:46:21
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anairdaz_ :
I have come to my boyfriend about the same issues multiple times and every time I bring up my feelings, he thinks it’s an open invitation to talk about his feelings. When one he is not an emotional person and two he tells me that when things bother him, it’s not important enough to bring up to me…… of course until the moment I am being emotional vulnerable with him I don’t think I can do this much longer. Can men really really grow ??
2026-08-12 17:37:46
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whitehorse0075 :
My husband will not even talk
2026-08-13 19:52:06
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OnwardnUpward🌻 :
“I am disappointed that you didn’t ask my mom if she needed to eat.” He heard “I am not good enough” and “I need to be a better host” and responded from there. I left the conversation.
2026-08-11 20:15:37
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