Whatever the reason, let him withdraw. It's his way of saying that his feelings aren't the same as yours and he wants to see other people. Don't waste your time by chasing him or making him chase you after he pulls away.
Medium got to the conclusion that “There is no definite time limit, but if a guy likes you, he will usually pull away for no longer than a few days or a week at most”.
They Want Space
You might notice yourself assuming the worst when someone ignores you. However, this behavior could be a sign that someone is craving time alone or doesn't want to be pressured into discussing something they're not ready to address yet.
If you're in an on-again off-again relationship, you can expect him to keep coming back as long as you both stay in this cycle together. If he's pulled away before only to come back, you know it could happen again. In fact, it's likely.
You need to keep in mind however that this actually depends on a few factors including how long you were in the relationship, how much he liked/loved you, the reason you split up and so on. For the most part, he WILL miss you and will want you back if you work the situation to your advantage.
Sometimes it has nothing to do with the relationship or you. He is just stressed – it could be work, or maybe he is having some personal issues with his family, friends or health. Sometimes, pulling away is a form of defense mechanism. His past bad experiences can make him afraid of going through heartache again.
He may have detected that you're interested in more than just hooking up, and he's trying to back away slowly. His sudden lack of interest could signal he wants to end things, or that he wants to keep you at a distance. Either way, if he's not interested in more than sex, and you are, it's probably not a good match.
Ignoring a guy is one of the surefire ways to get his attention, as he would at most times try to win your attention back. However, ignoring alone doesn't put you at the forefront of his thoughts and make you desirable.
He will feel bad for coming across as needy and for trying to get your attention. If you keep ignoring him without giving him a proper reason, you may end up pushing him away. Let him know why you are ignoring him if you don't want to come out as the bad person in the scenario.
Ignoring a guy could make him want you more and it is the oldest trick in the book. It may sound counterintuitive, but it can be an effective way to get his attention and make him take notice of you. But there is a catch it can backfire resulting in him pulling away if you did not do it the right way.
Simply stated, if the relationship is causing more hardship than anything else, what's the point? "When you fight more often than not, it's time to consider leaving. And if even at its best the relationship was never really good, you'll likely be happier if you leave the relationship," Leeds tells mbg.
So, a few weeks to two months is the answer to the question, “How long does it take for a guy to miss you?” Typically, men realize what they lost when they can't find a woman with their personality. By then, they learn not all women are the same, and they shouldn't have broken off the relationship.
I recommend three weeks because anything less than that is too short and anything over that starts to get a bit too long. If you can wait until he reaches out to you, until he makes an effort, that would be the best. Listen, I know it's hard.
Giving him space might not feel sincere to him and can trigger a sense of suffocation. Unless he tells you what he was up to, resist the urge to ask him about it. It is natural to want to call or text him. But if he has asked for space, do not call or text him.
He Is Afraid Of His Feelings For You
Maybe this is the first time he is experiencing such intense feelings for someone, and this scares him. He might be scared of the fact that he will disappoint you or doubtful if he is ready to commit. Being afraid of feelings and love is the number one reason men pull away.
When a guy runs hot and cold on you, it's highly likely that he's insecure. He is blowing hot when he's feeling strong emotions about you. After the first few months of dating, he begins to panic. He gets anxious that you don't like him as much as he does.