How to Deal with Someone Pushing You Away
Are you feeling distant from someone you love? Do you sense them pushing you away?
It’s never easy when someone we care about becomes less accessible. However, there are steps you can take to try and reconnect with them.
In this article, we will be looking at how to recognize when someone is pushing you away, why this might be happening, and what you can do to address the issue. By the end of this article, you should feel more empowered to take control of the situation and hopefully restore your relationship.
Signs That Someone Is Pushing You Away
Recognizing when someone is drifting away from you can be challenging. Sometimes, it can be easy to mistake their behavior with genuine busyness or stress.
However, there are specific signs you can look out for that may indicate that they are pulling away from you. Here are some signs that someone is pushing you away:
- Hesitant to Make Plans: If they are consistently hesitant to make plans, then this could be a sign that they don’t want to spend time with you.
- Always Cancels Plans: If they are continually canceling plans, then this could indicate that they don’t value your time and may not be invested in the relationship.
- Doesn’t Listen Well: If they don’t seem interested in what you have to say or make little effort to engage with you when you speak, then it’s possible they are disinterested in the relationship.
- Body Language: Pay attention to their body language. Are they avoiding eye contact, crossing their arms, or avoiding physical touch?
- Mutual Friends/Family Members: If you notice that mutual friends or family members are acting differently around you, then this may suggest that your loved one has been talking negatively about you or is distancing themselves from you.
- Gives Short Answers: If they answer your questions with short, abrupt answers, this could be a sign that they don’t want to engage with you.
- No Communication: If they are not making an effort to communicate with you or respond to your messages, then they could be consciously or unconsciously pushing you away.
- Disagreement: Frequent disagreements can create emotional distance from a person.
- Lack of Warmth: If they no longer express affection or warmth towards you, then it could be a sign of a deteriorating relationship.
- Negative/Depressed Behavior: If they display negative or depressed behavior consistently, it suggests that they are going through a hard time and may inadvertently push you away.
- Stop Inviting You to Events: If you were once invited to social events but are no longer asked, then this may be a sign that your loved one is distancing themselves from you.
- Unfriended on Social Media: Being unfriended on social media is a clear sign that they are trying to create distance between the two of you.
- No Life Updates: If you’re not being kept updated on their life or current events, then it may indicate they don’t consider you an essential part of their life.
- Lying: If you catch them in a lie or notice they are being dishonest with you, it’s reasonable to assume that they are losing trust in you or pushing you away.
- Getting Blamed for Everything: If you find yourself being blamed for everything that goes wrong, then this could be a sign that they are trying to push you away.
- Asks for Space: If they directly communicate that they require space or want some alone time, then it says something about how they view the relationship and what they need to walk through.
Reasons Why Someone Might Push You Away
It’s critical to understand that when someone is pushing you away, it may not be about you. People are complex and have various motives for their behavior.
Below are some reasons why someone might push you away:
- Personal Boundary: They might want to create a boundary to protect themselves from future emotional pain or trauma.
- Family Life: If their family poses a threat to their mental health or well-being, they may push away people who might expose them to that toxicity.
- Mental Health: Mental health disorders can trigger the desire to isolate oneself from those around them.
- Fear of Intimacy: Fear of emotional vulnerability could lead them to distance themselves from emotional attachments.
- Maturity: Some people may not be ready to own their reactions and deal with conflict appropriately, so they dissolve the relationship to avoid it.
- Disinterest: They may have lost interest in the relationship or have realized that the relationship may not be a good one for them.
- Incompatibility: They may have once been attracted to your personality and values, but at this stage, they sense an incompatibility that makes them drift away.
What To Do When Someone You Love Pushes You Away
Now that we understand how to spot signs and reasons why someone might push us away lets focus on what we can do when this happens. Take a look at these steps and see if anything resonates with you and your situation.
Communicating Openly About Your Feelings
First, try and communicate openly with the person about your feelings. Use “I statements” such as “I feel hurt when you cancel plans” instead of “you always cancel plans.” This approach allows you to express your emotions without placing blame or accusing the other person.
Asking What’s Wrong
Be non-confrontational and approach it from an empathetic perspective. Perhaps they are going through a challenging time, or something has come up that they feel uncomfortable discussing.
Ensure that you are earnest in trying to understand them, and approach it patiently.
Offering Help
If they seem overwhelmed or stressed, offer to help. Ask if there is anything you can do to make things easier for them.
Sometimes, small gestures can go a long way in restoring connections.
Giving Space and Being Patient
This step can be challenging, but it is crucial to respect their wishes. If they are pushing you away because they need space, then give them that space.
Sometimes, people need time to process their emotions, thoughts or feelings and prepare to come back to a relationship better.
Adding More Fun and Novelty to the Relationship
Plan activities together or do things that you used to do fun. Reminisce on memories you’ve shared and create new ones.
This step can help break down walls, create memories together and restore the connection to each other.
Checking In On Them
Send a message or call them to check how they’re doing. Show interest in their lives without being overbearing.
However, it’s vital not to go overboard or strip away their autonomy.
Having Fun On Your Own
Just because they are pushing you away, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life. Take care of yourself and do things you enjoy.
This step shows you’re resilient and have inner strength.
Not Taking It Personally
Remember, their behavior isn’t necessarily a reflection of your worth or character. Sometimes, it’s not about you.
It could be their insecurities or reasons that push them away from you. Remember that everyone has their journey and that you can’t take their actions personally.
Walking Away From The Relationship
If the relationship is toxic or stressful and all attempts to re-connect fail, it might be time to let go. Walking away from a relationship that doesn’t serve either party is sometimes the best course of action.
In conclusion, recognizing when someone is pushing you away and taking action to reconnect or let go is essential in any relationship. Remember to communicate your expectations clearly, practice empathy when dealing with someone who’s going through a hard time, and take care of yourself throughout the process.
Remember, you are worthy of love, connection, and growth. Good luck.
In conclusion, recognizing the signs that someone is pushing you away is only the first step. Once identified, it’s essential to understand that this behavior is not always about you and is often a reflection of personal boundaries, life changes, and mental health.
If you find yourself in this situation, communicate openly about your feelings, offer support, give space and be patient, and remember to take care of yourself. We hope this article has helped you recognize the signs and offered you practical steps that might help you restore your relationship or walk away if that’s the best course of action.
Remember, relationships are an essential part of life, and understanding how to navigate them can contribute to a happier and healthier life.
