The Alcove Journal

Writing on love, anxiety, and repair.

Honest essays on the patterns that quietly pull couples apart - and the small moves that bring them back.

By Ofer Shterling · July 1, 2026 · 5 min read

Stop Asking ChatGPT About Your Marriage

It answers instantly, fluently, sympathetically - and nothing changes. Why a general-purpose chatbot can't coach a relationship, and what a tool built for two people does differently.

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By Ofer Shterling · June 24, 2026 · 5 min read

Holding On Too Tight

The behaviors meant to keep a partner close are exactly the ones that push them away. On anxiety, the illusion of control, and the pursuer-distancer pattern - and how to step out of it.

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