I feel guilty for needing less contact

Dear Delyara, There are times when I genuinely need more space, less messaging, fewer demands, quieter evenings, longer delays before replying, and less emotional reachability. And still, guilt arrives immediately. As if needing less contact means I love people less. As if exhaustion is a moral flaw. As if boundaries are secret acts of rejection unless wrapped in enough apology to neutralize them. I know this pattern isn’t kind to me. It is still deeply familiar.