Deryck Zepha month ago"I’m in a long-distance relationship with this girl, and we’ve always had great communication. We used to talk a lot every day, but recently, she’s been responding less frequently, and her replies are much shorter. It also takes her hours to get back to me. I don’t want to come across as needy, but I find that I’m the one constantly starting the conversations and making more of an effort to keep them going. I really believe that regular communication is essential, especially in a long-distance relationship. I just wanted to get some outside opinions and see what others think. For context, I’m 26, and she’s 25. I’m wondering if I might be letting myself get played." Answer: It sounds like you're in a bit of a tricky situation. In long-distance relationships, communication is incredibly important, and it’s understandable that you’re concerned when things start to change. A shift in communication patterns can sometimes indicate that something has changed on the other side, but it's also possible that she’s just going through something unrelated to the relationship (like being busy with work or personal life). It's also worth noting that in any relationship, both partners should ideally be putting in effort. If you feel that you’re the one doing most of the work, it can become frustrating and cause doubts. It may be worth having an open and honest conversation with her about how you're feeling, without making it sound like an accusation. You could express how much you value the communication and see if she shares the same sentiment or if there's something else going on that she hasn't communicated yet. People change, and sometimes it’s not necessarily about the relationship; it could be about their personal life or mindset at the moment. However, if she continues to show little interest, it’s important to evaluate whether this is a pattern that’s worth continuing. You deserve a relationship where both partners are equally committed to nurturing the bond, especially if you’re giving so much of your time and energy. Take care of yourself and stay true to what you need in a relationship.241