Hi Jaymoq,
I’m sorry you are having difficult relationships. I can relate.
It sounds like your partner wants to check out by getting too busy with work. You said you fight often.
I had a relationship where I discussed, argued, fought over my partner not meeting my extremely few and critical needs. Nothing I said ever got him to change his uncaring ways. Ultimately, I was seen by him and others close to us (our kids!) as something so negative, I now feel shamed.
Your title of this thread triggers that ‘standing up for myself’ was what I was doing when I was angry and argumentative. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have fought for so long. I wished I had accepted that this person had no intention of meeting my needs and sacrificing anything or making any effort for me, and bravely moved on ending the marriage. That’s standing up for yourself!