He missed his wife after just 2 hours. What that teaches us about relationships.

You know the saying: Distance makes the heart grow fonder. But is that axiom true if someone's only gone a few hours?

A viral TikTok with about 22 million views suggests so. In the video, a muscular man with a beaming smile races to his wife's car after she left for two hours. "This made me realize I deserve someone like this," one comment read. Another: "There’s nothing like seeing a big muscled guy being a complete lover boy."

The video itself is sweet and not of any concern; it's a fun internet post.

But it's a good entry point for a few deeper questions about relationships: Are these types of sentiments ever cause for concern? Is it OK to miss your partner that much? Mental health experts contend every relationship looks different. What matters is what works for individual couples and finding a balance between together and alone time.

"The healthiest relationships allow for both closeness and independence," says Luis Cornejo, licensed marriage and family therapist. "You can miss your partner after a few hours and still enjoy time on your own. It’s the balance of connection and individuality that helps relationships stay strong in the long run."

What does 'too much togetherness' mean?

What constitutes too much time together or apart isn't easily defined. It's a data point. "Missing your partner after a few short hours is simply a slice of information," says Laura Petiford, a licensed marriage and family therapist. "The more critical aspect of this is how this feeling impacts the partners."

Some people love spending quality time with their partner and mourn their absence. "It could be seen as a reflection of intense love, affection and connection, which are things many people hope to find in a relationship," says Maryanne Fisher, a psychology professor at St. Mary's University in Canada. "Who wouldn't want their partner smiling when they see them after they've been away all day?"

Other relationships might require more time apart. "Some people need alone time or prefer to compartmentalize aspects of their lives, such as keeping friendships or hobbies separate from their partner," Fisher says. "For them, too much togetherness might feel like a loss of identity."

Watch out for some key signs of trouble. One such warning is "if the missing turns into overwhelming anxiety, guilt or constant worry about the relationship," Cornejo says. Or "if someone feels they can’t function without their partner nearby, or if enjoying time apart creates conflict or shame, that can point to deeper patterns around attachment, self-worth or communication."

'We all have emotional blind spots'

There's no shame in getting help in situations like this from a trained mental health counselor; your friends' and families' advice may not cut it.

"We all have emotional blind spots that can prevent us from experiencing what we most want in our lives," says Alice Shepard, clinical psychologist and the owner of Mirielle Therapy Practice.

If you think your relationship might require therapeutic intervention, remember that clinical advice will vary to some degree, too.

"Most professionals would recommend that partners strive for a balance of reliance and independence," Fisher says. "I don't think that's as essential as mutual understanding."

Heed this advice from Petiford, of all else: "If the predominant experience of one or both partners is happiness during times of separateness and conflict or unhappiness during times of togetherness, that could be an indication to seek professional support to explore what this means about the relationship."