You love your partner, but lately, it feels like you’re just co-managing a life together. The spark that used to feel effortless now feels buried under exhaustion, logistics, and “just getting through the week.” In this episode, Dr. Rachel Orleckunpacks what really causes the shift from lovers to roommates — and why it’s not proof that love has faded, but that your nervous system has been in survival mode for too long.

Rachel explains how stress, routine, and emotional disconnection suppress desire, why “trying harder” doesn’t reignite chemistry, and how safety — not effort — brings your body back online. Learn how to start reconnecting through small, nervous-system-safe acts of curiosity using her 2% Braver approach, and why desire doesn’t die… it just hides until it feels safe to reemerge.

If you’ve ever looked at your partner and wondered where the spark went, this episode will help you see that it’s still there — waiting for both of you to exhale and reach again.

Key Topics Covered

• The real reason attraction fades in long-term relationships
• Why stress, survival, and exhaustion shut down desire
• The difference between spontaneous and responsive arousal
• Why safety — not spontaneity — is the foundation of intimacy
• The “2% Braver” method for rebuilding safety and desire
• How micro-moments of presence reignite connection

Resources:

Free Download: Break the Cycle- A Self-Paced Guide to Stop Reacting and Start Reconnecting

WA Residents: Want help working on your relationship? Contact Dr. Rachel in her private practice - www.meaningfuljourneycounseling.com