Resentment is that slow-burning emotional stew of anger, disappointment, and hurt. It builds when we feel wronged or mistreated, and when those feelings are never acknowledged or resolved. Over time, that unresolved hurt solidifies into a wall between you and the person you once felt close to.
Maybe your partner repeatedly dismissed your concerns. Maybe you gave more than you received—emotionally, physically, or mentally—and felt taken for granted. Or maybe a betrayal, big or small, went unspoken or unresolved. Whatever the source, the end result is often the same: a lingering emotional wound that shapes how you see your partner and your relationship.
Resentment thrives in silence. When you don’t feel safe enough to express your pain, or when attempts at conversation are met with defensiveness or denial, the wound deepens. And over time, the person you once turned to becomes the person you turn away from.
