Promiscuity: Another way people raised by emotionally detached parents find they can get some of their needs met is through sex. This can create compulsive tendencies, which causes them to lean into instant gratification because they never know when their needs are going to be met again.
An emotionally unavailable person is typically not willing or able to truly commit to you and be loyal to you. This type of person will often want to keep things casual and undefined so as to not deal with any of the emotional components that go into a long-term relationship.
"Another reason someone might attract someone emotionally unavailable is because they have low self-esteem. For whatever reason (body image issues, experience of being bullied, job instability, addiction, or mental health issues), they may not believe they are worthy of love and commitment," she says.
If one parent or both were absent from your life or emotionally unavailable, it's not uncommon to be drawn to the same type of partner repeatedly because it feels familiar.
There could be many underlying reasons for their lack of emotional attachment and their behaviour in general. However, being emotionally unavailable in no way accounts for cheating. People who are emotionally unavailable tend to be distant and avoid serious conversations and issues.
Difficulty Showing Non-Sexual Affection
Emotionally distant men can view physical touch as overwhelming or unnecessary unless it leads to sex or is part of sex. They don't often initiate hugging, cuddling, or hand-holding.
He makes you a priority
But, one of the signs an emotionally unavailable man likes you is when he puts you in his plans. This means you're a priority in his life. He might avoid talking about his feelings because it makes him feel less of a man. However, he would care about you in the best way he can.
While emotional availability is a key part of healthy relationships, emotional unavailability tends to be characteristic of unhealthy or even toxic relationships or patterns. After all, a critical part of forming and maintaining meaningful relationships is getting vulnerable and taking some risks with our emotions.
Perhaps you consciously want commitment, but deep down you fear true intimacy, losing your sense of self in the relationship, or getting hurt. As a result, it may feel safer to be with someone who is emotionally unavailable, because you know on some level that you don't have to fully commit to the other person.
You withhold personal feelings and thoughts
If you've found yourself unable or unwilling to share your feelings, you're likely emotionally unavailable. Walfish says this includes things like life goals, life regrets, wishes, hopes, and longings.
An Emotionally unavailable person often has a fear or a blockage to emotional intimacy, leaving the other person feeling like they are grasping for more, left feeling misunderstood, emotionally unsatisfied and confused.
A need to chase after people who can't actually love tends to stem from unresolved childhood issues, or even trauma. Self-help is a good start, and there are wonderful books out there to help with things like codependency and attachment issues.
Anxiety is about fear, and fear is one of the root causes of an emotionally unavailability: fear of intimacy, fear of being overwhelmed, fear of being hurt, fear of being judged, irrational fear of death and/or fear of being exposed as less than who they portray themselves to be.
Additionally, it gives them justification for their own actions. Emotionally unavailable men use manipulation quite often. Next time you notice something like that is happening, point it out immediately. Let him know that you're aware of his intentions and that you won't allow being manipulated.
While all narcissists are emotionally unavailable to some extent, not all emotionally unavailable people are narcissists. But sometimes the lines can get really blurry, especially since most narcissists are able to fabricate empathy for short periods of time.
Characteristics of an Emotionally Unavailable Person
For men in particular, a consuming fear is “losing” themselves in a relationship. Those who are emotionally unavailable also tend to fear and avoid intimacy and are sensitive to the feeling of being “clung to” or controlled by their romantic partner.
For example, instead of coming off as aloof, an emotionally unavailable person can be really happy and excited to see you, but they won't remember what's important to you or details about your life. In essence, they'll be thrilled to spend time with you, but they won't consider you when you're not together.
#9 He Gets Jealous
Jealousy is about a lot of things, including insecurity, immaturity, and fear. What is this? Emotionally unavailable men may experience jealousy more intensely because they bottle up their feelings.
' If not managed with enough care and awareness, being with an emotionally unavailable partner can be damaging, and it leads not only to feelings of loneliness and isolation but can even erode your self-esteem. Therefore, as much as possible, we should learn how to notice when a partner is emotionally unavailable.
No contact means that at least a temporarily unavailable man or woman has the time to think about the relationship and what might stop them from connecting with you or being emotionally intimate. During this time, they might take help from a therapist to become more emotionally available.
When you ignore a man who's emotionally unavailable, it will start bothering him to such a degree that he'll start feeling depressed and anxious. He will try to figure things out on his own and won't turn to friends or family for advice.