To ask how your partner's stress affects you

[chronictonic]

Whenever my DH is going through a period of stress or worry he has no interest in intimacy, of any kind. He's not a particularly cuddly, random snog or outwardly romantic person but everything goes out the window apart from the odd kiss to say bye etc.
After 15 years together I know this well now and try not to take it personally, though sometimes it does affect my self esteem, and I wonder if it's the stress or if it's me..! It's happening at the moment hence it's on my mind as I'm feeling a bit 'neglected' (i'm not particularly needy!) but I don't want to add a burden and I know from experience he'll emerge from this period.
How about you? How do your partners handle stress and does it impact you? And if it does, do you say anything?

My partner is similar, not cery affectionate anyway but when he's stressed he not only doesn't show affection but can be outright moody and nasty. As soon as he is stressed, I am stressed, it's really hard. We've just got over a period of him being a stressy bugger. I feel for you, just take deep breaths and remember that it will pass. I'd talk to him about it though, it helped in my situation because he does try to do better!

DH just started a new role and has been extra stressed since then. It affects me in that he works from home, therefore there is no commute in which to decompress so he goes straight from stressed office to home with the kids and it’s hard for him to switch mentality straight away. I usually tell him the minutiae of my day and whine a bit so have stopped that as I really have the life I dreamed off and don’t want to burden him with my silly worries (even though he loves it really). Same, 14 years together! First properly stressful patch tbh (2 kids plus a 6 month old too).

Oh to the sex point - he’d love it more but I just cba a lot of the time (enjoy it if I can be bothered!) and his bloody love language is physical touch but I just find kisses etc throughout the day annoying 😄 but I will make an effort to literally put myself out more to help during this stressful time haha.

Ah it's the opposite here! I don't have an unusually high sex drive and I don't need lots of affection, but i'd like some! Otherwise it sometimes just feels like a good friendship! And I am not willing to give up on intimacy just yet in my late 30's...

And it's nice that you feel desired?
I don't at times like this and it gets me down.

Thank you! They definitely sound similar. My DH gets quite short and impatient with it too which gets tiresome!