Pulling away is an expected behavior in relationships. It happens most often when a woman wants more commitment than her partner does—but it can also just as quickly occur when one person isn’t sure they’re ready for the next step. Either way, pulling away can be confusing and frustrating for both parties. Here’re common reasons why men lose interest in relationships.
1. He’s stressed
When a man feels stressed, he doesn’t necessarily have the same outlet as a woman. While women might get together with their friends to blow off steam, men are more likely to use alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms. They might also turn to sex or video games under pressure.
When your boyfriend is stressed out and pulling away from you, it may be because he doesn’t know how to handle his frustration. Men aren’t taught how to talk about their emotions like women are in western society these days, so if there’s anything that’s bothering him—and let’s face it: there always is!—he might try numbing himself with booze or other substances instead of talking about what’s going on inside his head with someone who can help him process those emotions appropriately.
2. He’s afraid of losing you
It is essential to understand that men are emotional creatures and often have difficulty expressing their feelings, which is why they pull away from you or lose interest in the relationship. They fear losing you because of their insecurities around rejection and being hurt.
3. He’s curious about what else is out there
They are always looking for the next best thing. We have a natural desire to find something better, even if we already have everything we need in front of us. There’s nothing wrong with this; it’s just how we’re designed! It’s a part of our DNA and not going anywhere.
However, when you start dating someone new, and they pull away after a few days or weeks, there might be an underlying reason why they don’t want to pursue things further—it could be that they aren’t ready to commit. Men who are happy being single usually won’t waste their time on someone who isn’t right for them (and vice versa).
4. His relationship with your friends isn’t great
Men want to be accepted by their partner’s friends and feel like they belong. They want to feel like they can be themselves around their partner’s friends and not have to hide any part of who they are. If your man has a good relationship with your friends, he will feel like the two of you are a couple, showing him that he can trust you if he wants to open up and share himself with others.
He also wants to know they’ll be there for him if he needs advice or wants someone else’s perspective. When these things happen between a couple and their mutual friends, it creates an environment where both partners feel comfortable being themselves around one another, which leads us back to our next point.
5. You’re not treating him right
You need to change your behavior to make him come back. You may have been treating him poorly all along and never knew it. So, what can you do? He senses that she’s not interested in him—and often, it’s because she isn’t giving him enough attention. He will feel less connected with you if he doesn’t feel he’s getting enough of your time or attention.
The best thing for this is simple: give him more of your time! This can be tricky for some people who lead busy lives, but if possible, try setting aside an hour every week just for the two of us (or however often we see each other), and this will show him that I’m serious about our relationship and ready for commitment by laying off some other activities so we can spend more time together.
6. He doesn’t want a relationship
It’s possible he’s not interested in a relationship with you. If he doesn’t have feelings for you, it will be evident from his tone and body language. He won’t want to talk about your future together; instead, he’ll focus on the present and keep things casual. Men afraid of commitment may pull away when they feel like their partner is getting too clingy, or they might just be trying to avoid getting hurt.
7. He’s not over his ex
If you’re wondering why he’s pulling away and losing interest, it could be because his ex still looms in the back of his mind. He might not want to end up with someone who reminds him of his ex, or he may think you’re too similar to them (and therefore also not his type). He may be afraid of getting hurt again, so he’s pushing you out of his life before you can hurt him first. It could also be that he’s scared of being judged by friends and family if they know about your relationship because they disapprove of how long it’s been going on or the fact that there isn’t any romance between you.
The bottom line? Your guy is probably worried about what others would say if they learned about your age difference—that would make him feel embarrassed in front of everyone else around him! He doesn’t want people laughing at him behind his back or gossiping about what an “older woman” is doing with her life (even though she’s only ten years older).
8. He doesn’t feel in control
If a man pulls away, it is often because he doesn’t feel in control of the situation. Men want to be the leader, make all decisions and provide security for their partners. If you are a woman who isn’t ready for this level of commitment or intimacy with him, he will pull away from you because he wants to avoid being attached to someone who may hurt or take advantage of him down the road.
Men also struggle to express emotion or ask for help when needed, which can lead them to act out when they’re feeling insecure and frustrated with themselves as well as others around them–which can cause men to become more withdrawn over time if they don’t find some way (through therapy) to express these feelings appropriately.
This can be a difficult situation for both the man and his girlfriend. He may feel like he’s losing her, and she may feel hurt that he didn’t want to discuss it with her first. But remember, if your boyfriend suddenly stops texting you back or acts distant, chances are good that something is up. It would help if you thought about the situation mentioned above and whether it is happening to you. If so, try to make some changes.