Value judgments, criticisms and advice-giving have no place in intimate communication. The goal is to appreciate and acknowledge the validity of the deepest feelings of the other person. If there is true equality between the two, they achieve a balance which feels right and which they don't want to lose. If one of the partners feels the need to lessen the level of intimacy, the probability of conflict increases. The clue to avoiding misunderstandings is to maintain your commitment and trust during these natural cycles which occur within any relationship.
Intimacy takes work and a sense of maturity.
To shirk the responsibility of keeping an intimate relationship alive invites a return to isolation. The intimate relationship is healthy. Humans are social beings and we respond physically to the experience of intimacy. People who have intimate relationships live longer and healthier lives and they report more personal happiness and satisfaction with the way they live. Intimacy gives us a feeling of comfort, security, and a sense of being loved and accepted.