You probably won't like the real reason your partner is pulling away

So...your partner is suddenly acting like you're the last thought on their mind, huh? 

Been there, know that feeling.

But before you all-out panic, know that there are several reasons men (and women!) pull away—and they're not all bad.

And there's actually a lot you can do when this annoying (yet often inevitable) situation.

But let's back up a second: Space is healthy, and Everyone needs it in order to continually check themselves and maintain their individual personalities and lives outside their relationship.

Whether that means visiting your family without bringing your S.O. or going out on a Saturday night with just your girls, time apart is necessary for a healthy bond to grow.

(Otherwise, you risk an unhealthy codependent relationship.)

That said, space feels like the worst thing in the world when your partner is initiating it and you're...well, not.

It's a vicious cycle: They pull away, you—wondering why—try to reel them in closer, then they pull away more...repeat, repeat.

(Sound familiar?)

You have every right to feel uneasy when someone starts acting weird or different from their usual self.

Say, they're suddenly spending more time at the office instead of on the couch with you, taking a long time to respond to texts (and with short answers) when they're usually super talkative, or not reaching out until halfway through the day (if at all) when they're typically a "Good morning, beautiful!" type.

But know this: They're not necessarily trying to end your relationship or keep secrets from you, says Ann Rosen Spector, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist in Philadelphia.

They could just need a little room to think...