Hollow,
I can relate to what you're saying here. When this happens for me it's usually feeling vulnerable, then an immediate need to protect myself. Protecting myself would come out to be my focusing on my T rather than in myself in a way... I don't know how really to explain.
Connection can be so terrifying and I really do think downward and upward spirals is a great way to express the feelings... it describes what I went through perfectly.
Have you talked to him about this stuff at all?