#224: The Silent Wedge: How Defensiveness Destroys Emotional Safety

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You say one thing. They hear another. And somehow, the more you try to explain, the worse it gets.

Sound familiar?

This is what defensiveness does. It scrambles your message, distorts your intentions, and quietly chips away at emotional safety, until even love starts to feel like a battleground.

According to renowned relationship researcher Dr. John Gottman, defensiveness is one of the top predictors of divorce. And not because you’re broken, but because it’s the armor we all reach for when emotions get big and uncomfortable.

In this episode of Love Shack Live, the podcast for anyone standing at a relationship crossroads, we’re breaking down the truth about defensiveness: why we all do it, what it looks like (even when it’s subtle), and how to take off the armor without losing yourself.

You’ll hear:

• Real-life examples of common defensive moves (yes, we all have a favorite!)
• How defensiveness kills emotional safety, and how to rebuild it
• A simple tool you can use to recognize when you’re getting defensive in real time

And we’ll ask the question that could shift everything:

What if the thing you’re doing to protect your heart… is actually keeping real love out?

Whether you’re navigating space, dating again, or trying to save something that still matters, this one’s for you. It’s time to slow things down, get honest about “that thing you do,” and start building connection from the inside out.

Timestamps:
03:39 Flavors of Defensiveness
06:44 The Impact of Defensiveness
17:14 Personal Stories and Examples
25:49 Building Emotional Safety
27:26 Understanding Defensiveness
28:34 Common Defensive Mechanisms
31:26 Personal Stories of Defensiveness
34:01 Managing Emotional Capacity
35:41 Practical Tips for Handling Defensiveness
44:07 Defensiveness in Relationships
47:31 Conclusion and Resources

🛠️ Need help identifying your own defensive patterns? Grab the Space & Separation Communication Playbook —it includes a self-assessment quiz and the exact language to use instead.

This isn’t just a quiz. It’s your roadmap out of confusion and into clarity, with real scripts and next steps to help you reconnect without pushing them away.

🎯 Don’t wait. Most couples spend years stuck in the same painful loop. Let’s break yours today.

Grab your copy here → stacibartley.com/separation-survival-kit/space-communication-playbook