did space clear your head and improve r/ship?

The last few months I have suffered anxiety and stress and it has affected how I feel about myself, it has also stopped me from keeping active which I love. Not being able to do what I love leaves my mind restless and me unhappy. I feel I am no longer my happy, confident, attractive self. I feel lost. I have a wonderful boyfriend but I think my problems have weighed heavily on our relationship. Also because I havent been happy in myself, my sex drive has vanished which has had an affect on him and he thinks I no longer love/ find him attractive.

As a result I think I may have been slightly too "sensitive" and picking up on the slightest thing that bothers me. He also have been going through some family stresses and I think what doesnt help is that he is usually also an active person but for the past few months he has done nothing but work and sleep due to stupid shift patters.

We have started arguing at least once sometimes twice a week, usually over tiny things like I take something he says the wrong way and then he gets defensive and angry.

We do not have our "own" lives and interests outside work and each other at the moment which is what I think is the route cause.

I really cant take the arguments any more and after a massive argument which was the crux for me and I said I couldnt take any more and that was it (although I wish it could work) I said we need some time apart to cool off. I do not mean break up but just take some time not seeing/speak to each other......I need to see if I am really unhappy with the relationship or whether it is just my personal situation I am unhappy with which is negatively clouding our relationship.

He said he didnt want a break and I do believe he loves me and wants to be with me despite the arguments since he would have walked away from the relationship otherwise. He thinks a break is not a good idea since we dont see enough of each other at the moment. (also causes to frustrations)

He eventually told me to contact him when Im ready to be with him again.

I think I need to help myself in order to be happy in the relationship and not look for problems.

I do not want to date anyone else, I do not want us to be over. I just want to address my problems instead of trying to carry on our relationship until we argue again.

Any one know what I mean? Did taking some space help you get your butter together and improve relationship or did you decide to be single?

how long did you take space i.e not see or call each other?