Notice if he often cancels plans with you, demotes you in favor of other friends and projects, or never seems to have time for you. Or perhaps he's always too busy to do things you want to do, but you see him spending time with his people regularly.
Things You Should Know
If a guy isn't very affectionate or seems distracted when you're together, he's likely not interested in a relationship. If he doesn't bring you around his friends and family and tends to disappear for days at a time, he probably doesn't want a long-term arrangement.
One of the most popular reasons why guys don't want relationships anymore is that they don't make them happy anymore. It might have been something that they enjoyed when they were young, but many men live very independent lives.
If someone isn't willing to commit right now, sure, they can change their mind, but it's unlikely. It doesn't matter why someone might not want a relationship, but if that's what you were looking for, this can put you in quite the bind.
There is a good chance that this man has emotional scars from a past relationship or that he is still getting over a bad breakup. Guys who give up on dating often don't do so for no reason. Giving up on dating and relationships often happens when someone has been severely hurt.
Men pull away due to multiple reasons ranging from fears, insecurities, or anxieties to desperation or loss of love. It is crucial for you to figure out the reason behind his pulling away to protect your relationship. And probably the best way to deal with it is to give him space. Let him figure out his emotions.
"When a couple can no longer imagine a future together, or their view of the future doesn't align, it is indicative of it coming to an end," Spinelli explains. Bruneau echoes this point, adding to take note if you've stopped talking about the future or making plans altogether.
There's No Emotional Connection
One of the key signs your relationship is ending is that you are no longer vulnerable and open with your partner. A cornerstone of happy, healthy relationships is that both partners feel comfortable being truly open to sharing thoughts and opinions with one another.
They are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, according to Mental-Health-Matters. These are the natural ways for your heart to heal.
If a man is stringing you along emotionally but keeping you in the friend-zone, just know you are his Plan B. If you were his Plan A, he would pair his emotional investment with a relationship commitment. He would be speaking the truth in love rather than just speaking love without the truth (Ephesians 4:15).
Confront him
If you want to never be someone's backup plan, you have to stand up for yourself. If you think that you are being treated inadequately and are constantly left wondering if he really likes you, put an end to this cycle once and for all. Talk to him and ask him what his intentions with you are.
"It might feel presumptive or like you're pressuring someone." So when does it stop being weird to bring it up? Once you've been hanging out with someone regularly (which Aaron defines as two to three times a week) for a couple months, that's usually the appropriate time to ask.
As much as you'd like to, you can't force an unwilling person into a relationship. That will only create resentment and, eventually, end in disappointment. Perhaps the only thing worse than dating a person who won't commit is being with a person who half-heartedly agrees to commit and then regrets it.
Men Seek Honesty In A Relationship
When it comes to relationships, men want to trust their partners completely. They also expect the trust to be reciprocated. A man cannot bear to be kept in the dark over any matter by his partner. They prefer to know the truth, regardless of how unpleasant it might be.
Prolactin represses dopamine, a key chemical in desire and motivation, and is linked both with sleepiness and feelings of sexual satisfaction. It's thus a de-arouser of sorts, and temporarily decreases men's desire for sex.
Relationships don't endure for many reasons. But key contributors to their demise involve issues of trust, communication, respect, priorities, and intimacy.
One of the most common reasons for a man to go from content to confused in a relationship is when it starts to become stagnant. This is not a bad thing, but an opportunity for the two of you to recreate some of that spark. Are you giving him mixed signals?