Navigating the "Silent Treatment" vs. Real-Life Crisis: Is this a Boundary or an Excuse?

I’m looking for some insight from others who understand the Fearful Avoidant (FA) experience. I’ve hit a rough patch, and I’m struggling to distinguish between a genuine crisis where my partner lacks the capacity to communicate and a "soft breakup" or avoidance tactic.

Here is the situation:

The Accusation: In a moment of high anxiety, I panicked and accused my partner of blocking me because I hadn't heard from them and also (which I didn’t find out until later) there was a technical glitch that switched all texts to SMS. It was a projection of my own fears, and I deeply regret it.

The Explanation: They eventually texted me to clarify. They explicitly stated this isn't a silent treatment or a punishment, but that they are going to be largely silent/unavailable because work and their kid are taking up every ounce of their energy.

The Internal Conflict: This is where my anxiety is sabotaging me. I cannot tell if this is a legitimate, temporary boundary set by someone in survival mode, or if it is a convenient excuse designed to distance themself and let me down easy without having to have a hard conversation.

My brain is stuck in a loop, and I need a reality check:

1. The FA Fear: They are using the kid/work crisis as a "buffer" to fade out. If they really wanted to make space for me, they would, so this must be the beginning of the end.

2. The Logical Reality: They are being honest about their limited bandwidth. To them, this is a clear boundary; to my anxious brain, it feels like the end of the connection.

For those who have been on either side of this, either as the one whose life is in chaos or the one waiting, how do you distinguish between a genuine, time-sensitive crisis and an "avoidance-by-excuse" strategy?

Is this a situation where I should "wait it out" as a gesture of support, or is that just me denying the reality that this is a slow-motion breakup? How do I handle the agonizing uncertainty without spiraling into further anxious behavior?
Any perspective on how to tell the difference would be appreciated.