Intimacy anorexia, emotional neglect, marriage disconnection, and emotional withholding can leave a spouse feeling unseen, unwanted, and alone. In this video, Dr. Doug Weiss explains why an intimacy anorexic often stays busy and how busyness can become a powerful way to avoid closeness while still appearing responsible, spiritual, helpful, or productive.
Busyness can look innocent on the outside. It may show up as work, parenting, church involvement, volunteering, hobbies, fitness, politics, or constantly helping other people. But when busyness becomes a pattern of avoiding spiritual, emotional, or physical connection, it can create deep pain in the spouse who is left waiting, hoping, and feeling pushed further down the priority list.
Dr. Weiss breaks down how intimacy anorexia uses “good” activities as a cloak for distance, why the neglected spouse may experience symptoms similar to betrayal trauma, and why healing must begin even if the intimacy anorexic is unwilling to change. If you feel married and alone, this teaching will help you better understand what may be happening and what healthy steps you can begin taking for yourself.
For counseling and support, contact Heart to Heart Counseling Center at 719-278-3708 or email heart2heart@xc.org to connect with a certified therapist who can help you start your healing journey. For accelerated recovery, book a 3-Day or 5-Day Intensive to get a lot of specialized help in a short amount of time.
Our neuromodulation program has helped many of our clients who have struggled with anxiety, PTSD, poor sleep, trauma, and other issues. To rebalance and restore your brain to healthy functionality, call our office at 719-278-3708.
Get the Pain For Love video download here: https://www.drdougweiss.com/product/pain-for-love-video-download/
For the Married & Alone book and workbook, visit:
https://www.drdougweiss.com/product/married-alone-book/
https://www.drdougweiss.com/product/married-alone-healing-exercises-workbook/
Read the Partner Betrayal Trauma book: https://www.drdougweiss.com/product/partner-betrayal-trauma-ebook/
Learn more about Intimacy Anorexia, click here: https://intimacyanorexia.com/
Visit our Partner Betrayal Trauma website for more resources on this topic: https://partnerbetrayaltrauma.org/
To learn more about our counseling services, visit: https://www.drdougweiss.com/relationship-and-addiction-counseling/
For more information about our intensive program to get a lot of help in recovering from Sex Addiction, Partner Betrayal Trauma, or Intimacy Anorexia, visit: https://www.drdougweiss.com/intensives/
To join one of our many support groups, visit the following links:
Phone Groups: https://www.drdougweiss.com/groups/
Free Facebook Groups: https://www.drdougweiss.com/facebook-groups/
Visit the American Association for Sex Addiction Therapy to find a certified therapist and other helpful resources: https://aasat.org/
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Why Do Intimacy Anorexics Stay So Busy?
Posted on 08/31/2026