When Independence Becomes Isolation

In a world that glorifies independence and self-sufficiency, cutting people off has become a common practice. We tell ourselves that we are protecting our peace, setting boundaries, or refusing to tolerate toxicity. And sometimes, that’s true. But what happens when cutting people off becomes a pattern—when every relationship ends the same way, with distance instead of resolution? What does it say when you can’t sustain a romantic relationship? When you feel too overwhelmed to tolerate the feelings that go along with the tough stuff? Or the narrative is always the same when a relationship ends? Or when you find others keep walking away from you?