Back in the Little Space Again

I'm a trans woman in my 30s who's always been into little-space dynamics with select partners. The thing about being in your thirties and playing age play is that it can feel incredibly isolating, especially when you're trying to maintain a sense of adulthood outside these intimate moments. I've had several relationships where I’ve embraced this dynamic as a way to connect more deeply, but it's never really been something that made me feel fully seen or understood. A few months ago, I started seeing Alex, she’s an older woman, in her early 40s, and we connected over our shared interest in DDLG. Our relationship has been intense; we’ve explored a lot together and have a strong emotional bond. But the more time I spend as 'little' to her, the more I find myself questioning whether this dynamic is healthy for me. Lately, I've felt Alex starting to take on some of my roles, she's becoming more protective over me than usual, and there’s an undercurrent that feels like she wants to keep me in a perpetual state of dependency. It's not necessarily bad or abusive, but it does make me feel vulnerable and unsure about the future. At times, I long for just being seen as myself outside these roles we've created. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar with DDLG dynamics becoming too dominant in real life? Is it common to feel this way when you're stepping into a role that can be so immersive and transformative? Or am I the asshole here for not wanting to stay in 'little' mode all the time?