my boyfriend says he feels overwhelmed
but he never talks about girl or anything. I dont make him guess. I care deeply for him but wondering if Im wasting my time with him again. He may worry that he is not good enough for you and that he will somehow disappoint or let you . I knew he was home and tried to call him an hour later and he didnt answer. Someone please explain. i tried to tell him it wasnt me, i tried giving him space. And while the whole always tired thing might seem odd, Dr. Dorfman says, such a response is literally a person's emotional system shutting down to protect itself. Ive ranted and pleaded and cried. . we are still friends now, but he doesnt ask me out, or ask if im hungry or anything. Being vulnerable allows us to open our hearts and love someone, but it also allows us to be hurt. Understanding where stonewalling. then his uncle died and he became a little less attentive to me, workload increased, people were pestering him. Weve talked and I expressed how I felt and even asked if maybe we should just part ways, seeing were both busy and he doesnt seem to have much time for me? he is ignoring me like im not even there. Hi. What if he changes his mind and decided to leave? after 5 years he left now he calls and says he needs his clothes says a day hell pick them up and then doesnt , whats going on??? and on phone he treats her normal. Had trying to contact him, caused him to retreat even the more. . One last thing to keep in mind: Its unfortunate, but sometimes in an effort to help, women actually cause men to retreat deeper into their shell because of how they react to his withdrawn behaviors. Thank You! In other words, comparing your relationship to others (including one of your previous ones) is extremely toxic, and if your partner does this, it may because they're hoping to get back with an ex, or they're trying to sabotage the relationship in one way or another. I mean he is about to lose his house, business is underwater. Judgment can be one of the most damaging weapons in a relationship. We talked about it face to face that night after he got out of work and we both cried and he begged me to be his friend because he didnt want to lose me. When I right these, some of the times I need to cut down the questions for space reasons. (mind you, hes a truck driver, so for him not to be on the road, took a toll on him) That can help form a great relationship. The 1st month & half he was super lovey dovey & called/texted all the time! He snaps out of it but then it happens again. Go off, take care of you. I reached out to him via email and he responded. (April 2016) Thankfully he wasnt asked to put up money for this one. Ive been seeing this guy for about 2 yrs. His ex wife would not agree hes a good guy. Do I want to be his next victim? Weve had some struggles because his parents got divorced two years ago, and he is still struggling a lot with that. I dont want to bring it up per se Im just the type of person that when they feel they have screwed things up wont feel etter until theyve at least apologised but I dont want to antagonise him. stomach upset and other physical concerns. I Judy have to constantly remind myself to hang on when its hardits not personal. We lived together for 4 years and bought a house together 21 years ago so it was pretty serious. I asked him afterwards what we were and he was like i dont know, do you want boyfriend right now and what do u think we are? My boyfriend has become withdrawn lately. My boyfriend and I met online back in August. Hi, Eric Just be yourself and relax and you will be just fine. We work in the same field. When your SO is stressed, whats your signature move? Any addl tips on dealing w/a guy in mourning? "People in draining. I know he needs space but every now and then my emotions get the better of me and I start thinking hes sick of me. And, its not because I dont want him; weve had sex. We each put forth equal effort to get to know one another, and I was open and loving toward any part of his behavior. Well the last episode has lasted 2 months now. I am trying to be patient and not seem needy or upset with him. He just left for Kauai because he is a General Contractor and building a home there, will be gone for about month and a half. Im getting so sick and tired of it. lack of motivation. It feels like he is not relying on me but on them. Don't contact him . I thought if I loved him long enough and hard enough, that my dream would blossom into full living color. Only [insert time amount here] left, and then youre free! I care for him alot. Hi a day before the surgury she called her ex to apoligize since her mom had sent him a mean txt the day they broke up. He says he wasnt thinking about her before but because I kept pushing and pushing I have made him think about her a lot more. All and all it feels like a great relationship. I didnt realise that what he was not over was the child and that he felt he had lost one. She is prettier and smarter than me and a whole lot more. Thank you so much for your response Eric. Guys dont like to be around people when they dont think theyre at the top of their game. To a T. Dump him! she kept asking and asking what was wrong. What should I do? I met a guy who was the coolest, funniest, most organic, open, complimentary and honest. Thank you for your article Eric. Defensive behavior shouldn't be ignored, try to talk to him about it. But at the same time he used to say stuff like dont fall for me and one day I just looked at him and said if you tell a person not to fall for you doesnt mean they wont or vice versa he responds maybe Im just using reverse psychology on you This question fits my situation to the tell. He may not feel that he is good enough for you. "If your partner compares you to their ex during an argument, let them know that its not useful and its hurtful," Dr. O'Reilly says. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Actively withholding the truth of their thoughts and feelings can be a sign they just dont want to upset you. He still calls me daily. He told me that he was extremely stressed because it was bringing up old issues for him, and he warned me that when he is stressed, he pulls away from everyone and needs time and space alone. Im reading this several months later, but I must say you are absolutely right. Any advice will be much appreciated. While being concerned for your well-being is a hallmark of a good relationship, if that concern seems to tip over into constant worry, thats a signal your partner might be feeling undue emotional stress. we have same classes and thats all. Just recently found this article and wanted some insight.I was with a guy for over a year we always had a good relationship if anything it was the distance that felt heavy at times, we did hav disagreements but we did resolve them like two mature adults. Since weve talked about the situation, we both know were on the same page and want the relationship to work. As part of the study, the University of. Coffee on me today. While perhaps your partner is 100% happy-go-lucky, chances are if you dont really know whats going on in their lives (but they definitely know what is going on with you) this might be a sign that the relationship is not currently on equal footing, Colizza says. My boyfriend of 4 years shuts down everything hes stressed. He hasnt changed his relationship status with me and hasnt removed any tagged posts from his trip here. If I try to talk to them, I am most often met with resistance and then saying they dont want to talk about it. We had a great time, talked for hours, and both had the best kiss of our lives (exact words coming from his lips). The calls dwindled to every other day, which is ok because my life isnt that crazy to talk for extended times every day. Found out that I have uterine cancer. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. I have a degree in Psychology and I've dedicated the last 20 years of my life to learning everything I can about human psychology and sharing what gets people out of struggling with life and into having the life they really want. The other 300 days out of the year hes my soulmate. OKwhen you hear this stuff in passing one at a time it isnt too alarming but when I list themOMFG. Fast forward to now hes been pulling away from me right after he told me he had this very lovigng dream of me and I didnt txt him for a whole week we usually would speak not everyday but majority then I realize hes depress so I never texted him I kept my composure but he did update his whatsapp status and I messaged him simply asking if he ws okay and then I said if you ever wanna talk Im here, not sure if saying that was a bad idea or not but I do lovee this guy Ive just been trying to keep my calm and be understandig but I dont know what I really should do, I just feel confused also I know his studies and work and family life is a struggle for him seeing that his dad passed away when he was a kid and he somewhat looks after his family. I'm so proud of how youve been balancing everything lately under so much pressure. Because mutual support is what love is really about, you know? Then an hour later he texted me and said his feelings have changed, this has to end now, Im sorry. Then suddenly he told me that he wants to date other women. So we had a day date and then hung out the next night. I need to ask about men backing off and pulling away. I know I was too much. So really, this is a time to celebrate and feel good. He was such a sweetheart about it and would even ask me for permission if he wanted to hang out with a group of his friends (a group a girls) if they all planned to go out one night (I never asked him to do things like this he chose to ask all by himself, so it made me feel secure). then he said he was sorry and needs some time before we can talk or be friends again. One of my female friends said to him, OK after all these girls, havent you learned to do ANYTHING differently? The day of the funeral he went alone. she began to feel worse. Just like all of you, ladies, I freaked out thinking he didnt love me anymore. soon they became freinds with benifits on that day. You will learn to better understand your guy and might just help him to open up, too. It is a constant battle and from what I understand and what Ive been experiencing, you have to be truly committed to stay the course as it can be heartbreaking and cause you to even experience depression. He has not called me since that day however every three or four days will send me a text message. Asking him what he wants puts the power in his hands. And he got all weird about the I love you againhe said it, but in a very rushed, unnatural way. He watches porn too much Hes been acting so different lately and I know its because hes stressed out at work and other various things. Im really sorry. Did I mess things up too badly? Actually, I already know the answer. Its really important to be aware of the potential effects your mood has on your partners well-being. He feels distant because he is overwhelmed Another reason why he starts being cold is that he is feeling smothered. They wont resent the gesture in it of itself, but theyll resent the fact that they feel like theyre an object of pity like they cant handle their situation themselves. I have been mindful to use this approach with my boyfriend recently while he has been facing redundancy and have found him to be very open with me and that this has deepened our bond. He wants to know how you feel about his attraction to other women. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Maybe you whip up their favorite meal, initiate some stress-relieving time in the bedroom, or try to take their mind off things by planning a fun date night. The guy Ive been dating fir the past 4 months does similarly. Thats what lead me to search for HELP! When I dropped him off at the airport, he became emotional and kissed me and told me to go quickly bc he didnt want to drag out the goodbye and cry in front of everyone there. However, you should still support them through these messages. :) At least you guys are still talking and everything. if he is not fully over someone or the situation even if theyve been separated for days, months or years, you will be his rebound girlfriend. Well, I think thats kind of crap, Eric. That can lead to drain and resentment. Ever since the fight about his best friend he has not done nearly half the things he use to do such as send me loving goodnight and Goodmorning messages, nor does he seems as affectionate as he once was when we would meet up in personwhat did I do?