I'm sincerely thankful for the kind replies. I guess I realized long ago that we are not emotionally compatible but I'm not ready to leave the relationship. The pattern I mentioned above has been going on for a long time/often, though. There is also just a lack of conflict resolution, the ability to discuss topics, and a lack of the close/connecting conversations I desire. There is also resentment, on his part, as well as criticism, coldness, and so on. I've worked on my own part in the relationship and will continue to do so. One of my biggest problems that I brought to the relationship would have to be my insecurity. When he backed off of affection/sex/compliments/other forms of intimacy pretty soon into the relationship, it troubled me and left me asking questions, not getting answers, and getting upset/"filling in the blanks"/etc. I would type more but I'm actually in a hurry to be somewhere.

Jamillier - do you feel that I'm "emotionally blackmailing" based on my description?