Warnings you give before you push back

I've been making an observation. I'm a Sag with a Moon in Virgo and My cancer has a Moon in Leo. By nature when potentially put out of my comfort zone I analyze a situation.
Anywho, I've noticed something really interesting and also helps me a lot to take two, maybe three steps back before my cancer pushes back and then retreats.
He knows now that I'm an over thinker when I'm anxious. He actually pointed it out to me, he told me "Always over thinking things."
And I told him, "Your right, it's a bad habit and I'm working on it so I won't do it a lot."
He says , "Yes....just relax, don't over do it, lol."
When he's giving me a warning that something is annoying him or is starting to he says his peace and always puts "lol." Or will insert and emoticon with either a kiss or a smiley face at the end of the sentence.
I've learned that those two things are his first signals or warnings before he pushes back, or is about to retreat. And lately picking up on it has helped a great deal; he doesn't retreat like he would do, if he does it's two days and it's cause of work. In really doing my part in reading between the lines; as does he cause he knows my brain is always on over drive(not always but just sometimes)
What warnings do you all give before you push back and then ask for space, or when your about to take two steps back to analyze the situation with your partner?

I'll probably just be distant.. but I'm usually distant anyway just out of reach even when I am talking to someone I don't just give myself away like that. I would be distant but I won't disappear.