I disagree with the "masked" framing. _Actually talking to each other_ is fairly difficult for a lot of people and even a lot of relatively happy couples. Managing to do that in a productive fashion may take a very good night's sleep, or a lot of coffee, or a few beers, or some MDMA, or post-coital neurochemical rush, or whatever else. As long as it happens, you've had the conversation. If it went well and you got somewhere and did a thing or mutually understand a problem or whatever, it was a success.

Tools are tools. My inability to ram a nail into a wall with my thumb isn't being "masked" by my use of a hammer, and while I might get better at it with practice and better thumb technique that wouldn't be a more valid solution.