Most men say “don’t be insecure”—and accidentally make it worse. In this episode we show exactly what to say and do when your partner spirals, why silent treatment is emotional manipulation, and how to stop the avoidant ↔ anxious ping-pong. We role-play a real scenario (the “gym girls” fear), break down a viral Reddit post where a partner went 7 days with no contact, and give practical reassurance scripts that calm anxiety without coddling.Chapters • 00:00 Cold open: “Don’t be so insecure” (why that backfires) • 01:20 Setup + listener Reddit post summary • 04:05 7 days of silence: space vs. manipulation • 08:40 Why “You’re hot, stop worrying” doesn’t reassure her • 12:15 Role-play: the gym girls insecurity (listen → reflect → reassure) • 18:10 When she’s anxious and he’s avoidant: breaking the loop • 22:45 “Thermostat vs. Regulator”: who feels closeness, who fixes it • 27:30 Mixed signals aren’t mixed—they’re messages • 31:05 Boundaries: what to do if he won’t engage • 36:20 Men’s playbook: reassurance scripts that actually work • 41:00 Women’s playbook: ask for help without “frog-farming” • 46:15 Quick recap + weekly challengesRelevant links & resources • “Attached” (Amir Levine & Rachel Heller) — on anxious/avoidant patterns • The Four Horsemen: Stonewalling (Gottman Institute): https://www.gottman.com • Say hi / send your story: betterthanperfectpodcast@gmail.com • IG/TikTok: @betterthanperfectpodcastIf this helped, drop a comment with the most useful line you plan to use this week. 💬