Figure out what you actually want before you ask for it, or you’ll get exactly what you said and still be unhappy.

Requests get granted literally. Ask for space when what you wanted was to be asked about, and you will get space and feel worse, while the other person believes they did the right thing, because they did. The gap is not their fault. It comes from the fact that the first thing you can name is rarely the thing you actually need.

Before the next ask, run it one layer deeper. What would have to happen for this to feel resolved? Say that version instead, even if it takes more words and leaves you more exposed.