6 Top Causes of Walkaway Wife Syndrome
Marriage is complicated, especially when you and your spouse aren’t on the same wavelength. Communication becomes strained and then non-existent. When two people live as spouses without talking about or working on the relationship, it can be easy for one person to “check out.”
When a spouse checks out emotionally, there’s always the possibility that they will also walk out physically. Often, the other spouse is left to wonder what happened. They didn’t see it coming. Walkaway wife syndrome happened. And by this point, it may be beyond fixing.
What is walkaway wife syndrome?
Walkaway wife syndrome, also known as neglected wife syndrome, is a term given for a situation where a wife (or husband – this is an equal-opportunity problem, and walkaway husband syndrome is also real) has closed down after prolonged neglect or dissatisfaction. She’s gone from trying to express herself and her wishes to finally concluding that it’s not worth the bother.
After years of marriage, the alienation and lack of understanding have left her emotionally and physically packed and out the door. As for the spouse, he has somehow missed the warning signs and caught off guard by her “spur-of-the-moment” decision.
Top 6 causes of walkaway wife syndrome
Who is the typical walkaway wife? She’s been a “good wife” who has tried to convey her wishes and needs to no avail, perhaps for years. While the marriage isn’t bad, it’s also not good. She feels lonely, neglected, unloved, and unheard. Her husband is clueless, often oblivious to years of her unhappiness.
Is your wife a walkaway wife? If so, you may have missed some signs.
Lack of connection
There was no more emotional connection, no more meaningful conversations, no more spending quality time together. Each of you was occupied in your own little world and growing more distant by the year.
Neglect and indifference
That emotional distance turned into downright neglect and indifference. Needs weren’t met, interests and ambitions weren’t supported, and the status quo reigned. Any talk of addressing it was brushed off or met with apathy.
Conflict avoidance
She avoided conflict at all costs. After all, the conflict and confrontation were exhausting and never amounted to change anyway. Instead, she just bit her tongue, and all the things left unsaid built up into a reservoir of resentment.
No physical closeness
Your sex life was a thing of the past. And it wasn’t just about sex. It was the lack of any physical closeness at all. That lack of intimacy created a moat around her isolation.
No communication
She became adept at the silent treatment. Not communicating at all became much easier than disinterested conversations or hostile communication. The silent treatment wasn’t effective, but by the time she decided to initiate divorce, she didn’t care anymore.
Loss of interest
She reached her breaking point and simply lost interest. She’s no longer invested in the marriage, and she may have already considered divorce and made plans for a new life – without you.
Read: Can Marriage Counseling Save Our Marriage?
What you can do now
When we dissect the causes of walkaway wife syndrome above, we’re not encouraging blame. It takes two people for a marriage to succeed, and it also takes two people for a marriage to fail. But if you think this could happen to you, take heed of the signs now, before the problem becomes insurmountable.
Give her the attention she deserves. Give her some space. Take ownership of your role in the situation. Couples counseling or discernment counseling may help you both understand what happened, and perhaps it will fan a few sparks back into a flame. But remember that a walkaway wife has been feeling neglected for years. Getting her to reconsider your relationship may take a long time. Given the depth of her feelings of isolation, divorce may be an inevitable consequence at this point.
At Hello Divorce, we’re here to support your relationship, whether you’re on the cusp of divorce or fighting to keep your marriage together. We offer online divorce plans and other professional services that can support you no matter where you are in your journey. Let us help. Schedule a free phone call with us to learn how.
