Is a Breakup on the Horizon? 5 Signs He’s Pulling Away

Without warning, you’re beginning to feel distant from your partner. He used to be loving and attentive, but recently he’s been acting more aloof. Is he just busy, or could he be pulling away from you?

It can be difficult to know for sure, especially if you haven’t known a man very long. However, there are signs many men demonstrate when they’re pulling away from a woman. Here are five signs that he’s probably pulling away from you.

1.      Frequency of contact changes dramatically, and without warning. Each man has a different pace and method for communication. Some get in touch a lot, others may not. Some like to hold conversations over the phone regularly, others stick mostly to texting or email. If you have grown accustomed to a communication routine that stops without warning, this could be a bad sign. Men who want to hold on to a woman, but who know they have a rough week of work ahead, are likely to give their partner a heads up that they will be less available in the upcoming days.

2.      Conversations feel uneasy or forced. Be careful if your conversations flowed effortlessly not too long ago, but now they seem stilted and forced. This especially holds true if they seem to have lost any warmth they once had. These problems can also happen if your man has a lot on his mind, unrelated to you, but the longer it lasts, the more reason you could have to be concerned.

3.      Plans go out the window. Every time you suggest plans for the weekend, he makes an excuse. He never seems keen to offer any plans of his own, either. Even very busy men will make time for a woman they love. If his schedule is so packed that nothing can be arranged, it’s likely he’ll be open about when he anticipates his schedule will be more accommodating, and he’ll probably be very proactive about making plans with you for that time. If your partner is simply not present and not interested, he could very well be pulling away.

4.      Talk of future fades. A few weeks ago, he may have been talking about the two of you taking vacations months in the future. Perhaps he was hinting about starting a family. Recently, though, he hasn’t said a word about the months and years ahead. This could mean he’s beginning to have doubts about your role in his future, and the future of your relationship.

5.      Mutual friends begin acting strangely. If you have some common friends with your partner, particularly if they are very close with him, pay attention to how they behave around you. It’s likely that he has confided in at least one of them if he’s beginning to question whether he wants to stay in the relationship. Notice if they appear uncomfortable at all when you talk to them. Their body language could indicate to you whether your partner has been divulging relationship concerns to them.

These could all be signs that your partner is starting to pull away. Of course, the only way to know for sure is to talk to him about what’s going on. If you sense something is wrong, let him know. Communication is the only way to fully understand how he feels about your relationship, and what you can do to move forward.

5 Signs Your Ex Doesn’t Want You Back

Breaking up is difficult, and it’s even worse when you still want to be with your ex. While some couples do manage to rekindle their romance, there is also a chance that your former significant other doesn’t want you back, however hurtful that may feel. Usually, people will exhibit signs that show the relationship is over in their eyes. Before trying to get back a former flame, you need to figure out whether this person would even be open to dating you again.

Your ex probably doesn’t want you back if he or she:

1.  Tries to cut off all ties. This is one of the most obvious signs. If you never hear from your ex, not even when you’ve tried to make contact, that person is likely trying to move on from the situation. Some people may be tempted to read into cutting ties as an act that, somehow, is actually a sign your ex is still yearning for you. While there may be odd cases where people’s actions are wildly different from their intentions, you should take the sudden distance for what it is: someone taking steps to be less close to you than she or she once was.

2.   Responds to you with less urgency. Think about how reliably your ex got back to you when he or she was your partner. If the time between e-mails, texts, and phone calls is much more drawn out now, you’re getting a clear sign that you’re no longer a priority. You should also consider the methods used to get in touch with you. If lengthy phone conversations were a staple of your past, but now you’re only getting brief texts or e-mails, it’s a sign your ex wants to keep things more impersonal than they once were.

3.   Only communicates about professional and financial matters. Sometimes couples who have been together for a long time have many entanglements that don’t just vanish once the relationship is over. They may own property, for example, or perhaps even share a business. In these cases, it makes sense that your ex would reach out promptly and courteously about these matters. However, if your ex stops the conversation once it turns personal, he or she probably doesn’t want you back.

4.   Avoids topics related to your past. Some people may be comfortable keeping an ex around as a friend, but chances are they’ll keep the conversations light and platonic. If your ex squirms whenever you try to bring up your prior romantic relationship, or immediately changes the subject, that’s a sign he or she is trying to get beyond that part of the past.

5.   Has a new love interest. Rebounding does happen, where forlorn lovers rush into the arms of the first person who shows them affection. However, if your ex is with someone with whom they appear happy, you have to face the facts: you’re not going to get your ex back. That person has moved on; it’s probably best for you to try to do the same.

Moving on from a relationship can be difficult, especially when you’re still into your ex. It’s emotionally draining, though, to remain invested in someone who doesn’t want you back. If your former partner is showing signs that they are moving on, you should try to do the same.