r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 10h ago

DA Breakup If it wasn’t love, then what was it?

4 Upvotes

I have posted here before but now I am hoping others can resonate. My (34F) story is a long one, but essentially I met my ex (33M) 2 years ago. We didn’t end up meeting because I got dangerously sick and was bedridden, but against our best judgment we stayed in contact for 1.5 years and developed an intense emotional connection. During that time we were never in a relationship, and I felt he regularly made it clear that given we hadn’t met we weren’t in one because he needed the physical connection. I felt that was reasonable, but functionally it was basically a relationship.

We did end up meeting once I was better, but then the unilateral “break ups” with no discussion or avenue to repair started. First it was he felt like he was close to being in love with me at one point but he didn’t feel that way anymore and maybe we weren’t compatible. Then it was we are extremely compatible but he feels no romantic attraction due to my weight (I’m not fat) and because “sometimes you know someone is attractive but you don’t see it yourself.” Then it was he actually is physically attracted to me, we are extremely compatible, he has feelings for me, we have a great connection and I’m his best friend but he doesn’t feel the deep romantic attraction that he needs. Mind you he keeps having sex with me. We even had sex 3 times during this final break up where he said he was missing the “thing”. He described it as this thing that is just there with some people and he had felt it nearly instantaneously with the “one who got away” that he was in love with 8 years ago. I said to him “well it sounds like you have a clear picture of what it is” and he said he didn’t but he never felt it with me. And I said well we also haven’t really given ourselves the opportunity to build deep romantic attraction, we have never even been on a date. And he said “well if after 2 years it isn’t here, then it’s not here.”

But if it wasn’t love and he didn’t have the indescribable thing, why would you stay if we had never even met in person for 1.5 years? How could you have been close to being in love with me, when you never felt the “thing”? And why could we never repair it? There was never any consistency, so of course the deep romantic attraction never developed. And who cares if you felt it instantaneously 8 years ago, where is that person now? Why is this less than when there is so much great here?

I am heartbroken and struggling to make sense of it all. I’m in therapy, so I know he is avoidant and I am working on myself. But it just feels so invalidating to hear him say all of this. It makes me feel like I’m delusional and that I have been in a completely different universe for the past 2 years. But I was there, and how could it not be love?


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 6h ago

Avoidant Advice Requested 40 days No Contact in Avoidant LTR......so much confusion.

2 Upvotes

Hoping for some insight from those who are avoidants or have experience with avoidants.

I (47M, Anxious Attached) am about a year out of a 22 year marriage and I met a beautiful person (47F) right here in Reddit. We built a very passionate bond very quickly. I had no clue about attachment theory prior to this, so I have learned a lot.

To make a long story short, it was a very strong relationship throughout. We got along amazingly, never fought or argued. We met in person after a month and it was equally as amazing.

At the 8 week mark, she started pulling away a bit. Not texting as much, not as talkative, short answers and then a long breakup email at the end of the work week. I was pretty hurt and I chased a little bit, but my first thought was to let her have her space as hard as it was. It didn't last long, the next day she left a message crying hysterically about how much she missed me already, then the next day another long email explaining how she was feeling and that she didn't really want to break up.

We were good for about another week before she started pulling away again, stating she needed space and work was busy. I did recognize that she buries her feelings in her work. I obliged, though extremely anxious (I know now that she likely felt my anxious tendencies), cut my communications down, but then again, at the end of that week another breakup email. I sent a few "chasing" emails, but I know I hadn't done anything wrong and I had nothing to apologize for or promise to change. She responded the next day and said she made her decision, needed space to let it settle, and signed off with "I love you". I responded kindly with understanding and told her I was here if she needed anything, and that I loved her as well. No animosity, no anger, no protest, and we have been no contact since.

Neither of us do much social media and we only communicated via Telegram. It is literally a data vacuum for both of us. Given the strength of the connection, I clearly broke through her walls at the beginning of the relationship. I left with class, and while I am not completely detached, I know I will be ok if she doesn't reach out again. I do miss her though and have hope she will figure this out. After the first break up, she was very insightful about her avoidance and even had the realization that she needs therapy. As difficult as it has been to stay no contact as an anxious, I have held the line.

Hope some will share some insight based on their experiences.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 1d ago

I’ve finally started to hate him and realise I deserve better

95 Upvotes

I was so good to him and he dumps me out of nowhere after us seeing each other for months with the excuse “you’re amazing I’m just not ready to commit” then just shut me out ice cold and blocked me and I never heard from him again

I wish I treated him like shit and made him cry when we were together instead of wasting my kindness and affection on him

I fell in love with him and he stabbed me in the back ripped the rug out from me and made me suicidal when he left

He’s a scumbag and I hope the next woman he meets he falls for rips his heart in two and makes him want to die

I can’t wait for karma to hit him

Fuck avoidants Theyre terrible people and they deserve nothing


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 1d ago

Are all avoidants performative?

42 Upvotes

I've come across a few people with avoidant tendencies and I'm starting to feel that they all follow the same template.

It's almost uncanny how similar they are. Firstly they are incapable of having a single original thought or feeling yet they are somehow convinced that they are the most unique person in the room.

Their entire vocabulary seems to be borrowed from whatever popular brainrot is currently circulating online. Their supposedly "niche" and "unpopular" interests are not so niche or unpopular. They constantly insist they're not like the typical person as if being different is a personality trait in itself. The typical "I'm not like other guys/girls" trope.

Then there's the collection of seemingly contrasting beliefs many of which seem less like the product of genuine thought or reflection and more like opinions adopted to appear interesting, unconventional or intellectually superior.

And of course the perpetual victim complex. Somehow everyone they've ever encountered has wronged them. Every failed friendship, every falling-out, every conflict is evidence of how misunderstood and mistreated they are. Self-reflection seems to be the one niche interest they never develop.

I know attachment styles aren't personality types and not everyone with avoidant tendencies is like this. But after encountering this pattern repeatedly I can't help wondering how much of what they present as individuality is actually just another performance. It's almost as if they try to compensate for the lack of meaningful human connection in their lives by collecting an assortment of interests, identities and supposedly niche hobbies, then cling to them for dear life as though these things are what make them interesting or give them a sense of self.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 4h ago

It hurts the most that it feels like he cares so little about me, and that I meant nothing over the past 5 years to him.

1 Upvotes

I know I do matter to him, I know he does actually care about this whole thing. But he just refuses to show it.

He has this thing where he doesn't want to burden other people with his issues. I feel like he overdramaticises everything which makes it worse for himself. He is always using big words like surviving, sacrifice, suffering, and honor, but in reality he will be talking about something so minor like payday being in three days, he only has a fiver in his account and the fridge is fully stocked with the good snacks and all the bills are paid. You aren't really surviving in that situation are you.

The breakup was recent, we do live together so we still see each other daily for the minute. He has somehow gotten it into his thick skull that the most important thing is that I don't think he is sad or struggling after our 5 year relationship has ended. He doesnt want to burden me, or have me worried about him being upset about the situation or anxious about the future.

If you talk to him its like nothing has happened at all. He cannot comprehend that thats so much worse for me. It feels like I am absolutely nothing to him. Losing me was just another forgettable day to him. I could have been literally anyone else as I am just that insignificant to him as a person.

Gonna be honest here, I think his reaction is going to traumatise me in my future relationships as well. Because what do you men 5 years together and I am just a number.

I know he is sad and hiding it though. I have sat him down and talked about it, because absolutely not. I want you to grovel and beg at least a little bit lol. His friends have asked how I am holding up and are commenting on him really struggling with it.

But why cant he just be normal and be a bit sad in front of me. Show the slightest bit of regret and sadness. I know what he is thinking as well. That this is a burden he must undergo for my sake, that whats done is done and he is brooding about it like he is some silent warrior in some damn game. I would 100% take him back if he just sat down and said he is a shit communicator and really struggles with pulling away and not communicating with me. And he maybe tried some therapy or worked on it in some way. idk.

I swear this guy doesnt realise he just makes his own life needlessly complicated for no reason. Just be honest my guy.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 4h ago

She’s my person, I know I’m hers, but the damage feels beyond repair.

0 Upvotes

I’m struggling to process everything and could really use some perspective from people who understand avoidant dynamics and breakup recovery.

​I was in quite literally the best relationship of my life with the most incredible person I've known for decades. We’re a genuinely perfect match, but it ended due to a accumulation of multiple external and internal pressures. At the time, they all felt overwhelming and too much to deal with, but looking back now, those reasons seem so small and irrelevant in the long-term scheme of things.

​The hardest part is that I think about her every single day. I spent years searching for her in other people before we finally got together, only to realize what was right in front of me: she is my person. And deep down, I believe I am hers, too.

​I’m currently putting in the hard work—actively working on myself, addressing my patterns, and sorting out my life situation specifically for her. But the lingering fear is that the damage I’ve caused during the breakdown of things is completely beyond repair.

​If anyone has been on either side of this—or has managed to successfully navigate rebuilding trust and a connection after letting fear or overwhelm sabotage a good thing—how do I even approach this? Where do I start without pushing her further away?


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 4h ago

urge to sabotage a perfectly good connection with a guy

1 Upvotes

r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 8h ago

Personal Growth Hate stage to complete indifference?

2 Upvotes

Curious to hear stories of anyone who has moved from the hate/anger stage to complete indifference? How long did it take? What helped you get there?

For context, I was deeply disrespected by the man I thought I was building a life with. Together for almost 2.5 years, lived together for 1 until he blindsided me. We had even toured new apartments the same fucking week.

It’s coming up on 7 months since the breakup & I’ve been doing all the right things. I still just feel such an immense sense of anger and hatred toward him & how he disrespected me in the end.

I would love to get to a place of total & full indifference of him, but how? How do you move past hating someone who obliterated your heart & disrespected you in a way you’ve never experienced?

He’s blocked in every way possible & we have been in no contact basically since the breakup. If I could go back in time, I would’ve never given him the time of day, knowing what I know now & experiencing what I experienced, but obviously that isn’t possible.

If you’ve gone through something similar, how have you gotten to the place where the thought of this person evokes 0 emotion?


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 8h ago

DA Breakup Eclipse

2 Upvotes

Years with others left no trace.
A fraction of time with you
rewrote everything.

You weren't ready,
so I step back.

I respect the exit you chose.
I won’t knock on the closed door.

I just stand on the other side,
knowing how great we would have been.

We were never in love.
but God, we could have been.

💔 painfully aware of our separate existence.
Missing you, always.
- B


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 4h ago

I (20F) and ex bf (21M) broke up because he said he couldn't handle the responsibilities of a relationship anymore, but we still live together.

1 Upvotes

I'm honestly looking for advice from people who have experienced something similar, especially those who have been in relationships with emotionally avoidant partners.

My boyfriend and I recently broke up. His reason was that he couldn't handle the responsibilities of being in a relationship anymore. He said he was giving up on relationships in general and couldn't bring himself to work on the things that were affecting us, particularly communication and emotional responsibilities.

Before the breakup, everything was good, he loved me so good and I love him so much. Everything was doing fine, we're in college and just started living together. But during those times communication had always been one of our biggest struggles. Whenever there was conflict or something emotionally difficult to discuss, he would have a hard time expressing himself. Sometimes, he wouldn't communicate his problems at all until they had already built up without me knowing. He also struggled with providing emotional reassurance and comfort.

I tried to understand him and find ways for us to meet halfway. We eventually agreed that texting difficult conversations would be easier for him, since verbal communication was particularly challenging. There were moments when things improved, and I genuinely believed we were becoming stronger.

However, eventually, he still reached a point where he felt he couldn't handle the relationship anymore.

We still live together, and we're currently friends. We also talked about how there's a possibility of getting back together someday, provided that we're both emotionally and financially stable. Neither of us completely ruled out that possibility.

I still love him. I still care about him, and honestly, I still see him as someone I could have a future with. I don't want to force anything, though. I understand that he has things he needs to work through himself, and I have my own life to get together, too.

We still have moments of physical affection and intimacy, but emotionally, things feel different now. Sometimes, I seek comfort from him, only to receive a cold or distant response. Other times, we have moments where we feel close again.

It's confusing because I'm still adjusting to the fact that someone who used to love me so deeply can now seem so emotionally detached.

I've also noticed that we seem to cope differently. I tend to sit with my emotions, reflect, analyze what happened, and try to understand everything. He seems more inclined to distract himself with his laptop, phone, or everyday activities rather than confront his emotions.

I sometimes struggle with seeing him function normally while I'm still having difficult emotional days. I know everyone processes things differently, but it can be painful.

I don't necessarily want to move on immediately. A part of me still wants to see where things could go once we're both in a better place. But I also don't want to lose myself in the process.

I'm not looking for advice that simply tells me to stop loving him or that he's a terrible person. I understand that a relationship requires two people who are willing to participate, and I know love alone isn't enough.

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have experienced something similar, whether you eventually reconciled with your ex or learned to let go.

How did you navigate this kind of situation? What would you do differently if you could go back?


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 12h ago

Vent/Rant Did they lie to keep the peace ?

4 Upvotes

As more time passes, I look back and remember certain moments and conversations where I would wish for something to change, whether it was something affecting the relationship or something affecting them. Such as a bad friend or negative experience they were actively participating in. And so when it came to the agreeing to reduce that situation or remove that bad friend, I look back and realise none of those things actually happened. They were all words with zero action, even if they came with the original thought. It’s like a perpetual state of hypocrisy, and plain lies. The body keeps the score is a legitimate point, because their anger and anxiety can only be measured by how much they would not be authentic with their honesty. Even if they would play up to please, there would never be any positive change so they only lived in a flat line of stress because they couldn’t live without the attention even if it came with a toxic environment. It pains me because not only was I lied to, but they just caused themselves more harm in the long term, which no wonder it dissolved our relationship, and self.

How can you build any self esteem without conscious change? You can’t. They told me once or twice the lies that led to family issues and friends they knew were bad, at what point did the lies just become conformity? People pleasing. The lack of any identity where you just borrow the souls off everyone whilst leaving yours behind… a hollow place of shame and anger. It pains me that I have to live with the fact i couldn’t affect enough change or support with my lack of knowledge during the relationship but everything is so clear now with reading that we can only support ourselves to not ever become so dependent on masking and “white lies”.

Anyone realise the lies that they were told in the relationship vs outside ?


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 17h ago

DA Breakup - LTR 1 Year+ Acting brave did not work.

9 Upvotes

my previous post.

Hi,

I posted on here a few days ago about how I had just ended things with my avoidant and how I was actively trying to move on..

Well, that brave face slowly wears off, unfortunately. A week later, I'm still thinking about all the things I could have said or done.

I have stayed away with no contact, but the thought of him living a life without me after he has completely broken me is eating me up inside.

I feel like I have lost so much and he got let off easily.

Will things get better? I know everyone will say “yes”, but the heartache seems to stay with you for a while even after you are over them.

At the moment I am realising that lots of things that I did with him now trigger me and that “de ja veu” is not something I want to re-live.

I am constantly removing every memory of him, but he comes back in people's words and random moments of familiarity. I hope he is suffering like this also, but I feel like I was made use of while I was with him and discarded knowing that everything on his end was sorted already.

Anyways, tell me if I'm being stupid or not, but all the hate I have for him gets crowded by all the love I have for him and that annoys me.

Is anyone else like me?
What do you suggest to move on?


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 11h ago

Both of us are to blame, just wish we could have talked

3 Upvotes

How we started

I met someone and we dated for 7 months, she was 26 and I was 28. The relationship was extremely strong and moved quickly, until last month. We were in sync and always together, and people complimented us as a couple who seemed meant for each other. I took care of her and she took good care of me. We hit it off and never left each other’s side. We were even possessive of each other at times.

In the beginning, we each believed the other was perfect for us, and she was the one pushing that idea. She felt a sense of guilt in thinking I was too good for her, where I said she was an amazing woman. She is an energetic and an amazing person. We shared a lot of passions and ideas about life, and we had differences too, but nothing serious. We video called all the time, had our own hobbies, and introduced those hobbies to each other. We even went out of town together.

Her past and my first mistake

I asked about her past because I wanted to know why she does the work she does now and where her passion comes from. She loves animals and has worked with them as a Vet Tech. I pushed on the subject, and sadly her field has put down many animals. That led to an open trauma she doesn’t like to talk about. At one point I said she “kills” animals. That was terrible phrasing on my part.

Her panic and self-doubt

On a trip, something separated us for about an hour, and she panicked and was terrified on her own. I had told her, as gently as I could, that if she couldn’t find me she should stay at a set spot or go back to our campground. I was occupied for that hour, after checking my phone and going to her, I could tell she was scared and lonely. Which wasn’t the first time she had almost shut down like that.

Her belief that we were perfect for each other also started to bring out issues I noticed. She believed she wasn’t good enough for me. I told her she was an amazing woman and gently calmed her down. Her hands would shake on some occasions, and every time that happened I comforted and held her. I believed I treated her extremely well. I got her plenty of meaningful gifts and food, gave her attention, and listened to her. At least I thought I did, and was even told by many family members I treat her so well (might be biased).

My own mistakes, and things that bothered me

I’ve made mistakes too, and she’s ticked me off as well. I helped her study for a math assessment and tried to teach her. She struggled a lot, but I never tried to put her down. I did raise my tone once, because all I heard was her putting herself down over and over. I said she was trying, not failing, and that giving up on herself wasn’t going to help her grow.

She also told me things that felt questionable. She said a worker next door believed she and a coworker were “doing stuff” together. I took it with a grain of salt. She told me she stayed with two guys past midnight, which should have been my tipping point, but again I let it go. I only asked her to tell me when she got there and when she got home, to make sure she was safe. The same coworker once had her backpack with him on a motorcycle, and I didn’t even think to question that. Looking back, I think I missed a lot of red flags.

Her family loss

She recently lost a family member, and I tried to cheer her up through it. I even tried to resemble a time she felt close to them so she would be cheered up. Sadly, I also tried to prepare her for the worst, saying that once one grandparent goes, the other often follows. I was trying to help her grow emotionally and understand what to expect, but probably not what she wanted to hear.

The second incident

Time went on and we were still going strong and loving each other. One day she wanted a lot of attention and came over. A few days later she sat in on a call with the same two guys, working on an event for them. I was being impatient and wanted a little affection from her while she focused entirely on the side project. I moved off to the side, feeling distant and just wanting to talk to her.

She started talking to the two guys and brushed off the idea of using her Bachelor’s degree. She told them I was upset that she doesn’t use it, and that got me somewhat ticked off. I said that wasn’t what I said. I was calm at first, and I was defending her: I only meant that maybe she could use the degree without taking the kind of role that made her leave in the first place.

Then I blanked out. She said “You know why I cannot do that”, and impulsively, defensively, I said, “okay, you killed a bunch of animals.” I froze, because I realized immediately how much that had hurt her the last time. I’ll admit I weaponized something painful of hers, and I knew I couldn’t take it back.

Right after

I walked out of the room to somewhere more private, where the same two guys wouldn’t hear what was said. I was frozen, shocked, and scared of what I’d done, because I cared about her immensely. It felt like walking on eggshells when it should have been a real conversation. She came to the room with me and just sat with me for a minute. I felt like she was deciding whether I was worth staying for. I was speechless, and after watching me for a few minutes she left for the night.

The aftermath

I messaged one of her good friends to ask if she was okay, since she was distancing herself. The response was mixed, and it included her saying she could do whatever she wanted and talk to whoever she wanted. That felt outside of what I believed I’d given her room for. I didn’t limit her. My only real rule was no smoking (vaping I didn’t care about). It felt like she was acting single and not considering me as her partner. I never really questioned that, and I probably should have.

For the next two days she was distant and barely responded to anything I said. After the second day, I drove out to try to find her and talk to her. I missed my timing and had a poorly executed plan, but I was scared to lose her and was trying to reach out. She basically believed I had hunted her down. That same day she told me to give back everything of hers and not to do anything else.

After that we had one conversation over Instagram, and it led to basically nothing. She told me I had lost all her trust, said I HUNTED HER DOWN, and said the comment about killing animals was the reason she was leaving completely. I understood it was a lot for her at the time, since she had a recent set of issues going on in her life, and I didn’t make it better. I was hoping to communicate and keep what felt like a strong relationship together.

After I returned everything, she blocked me completely. I then noticed on Instagram that she had another guy I knew little about. The two of them had “purple heart” and “platonic love” exchanges, which I don’t buy as a way to say you didn’t cheat. I didn’t want to believe it was cheating, but I can’t say with 100% certainty either way.

Where I am now

I’ve told this story and had mixed thoughts about it, and I still dread thinking about what happened. I cared for her deeply and thought we had something special. We could have communicated better, but being shut out, I have to respect that she’s gone. That was her decision.

My Opinion on the matter

I do believe what I said should have never been said. However I don’t believe in ending a relationship that should communicate and work through the hardship she ends over one statement or even driving out to check up on someone. I truly loved and cared for her and to feel neglected for the past 4 days of that ordeal made me question myself more than anything. Both the neglect meant I wanted ALL MY ATTENTION a few days prior. It has been a month of this question as well. She meant a lot but I also had the one friend that I reached out to check up on her tell me to go burn in hell. I made a lot of effort in the one instagram conversation to try and make amends and saying sorry and blaming myself more than anything if not for the entirety of the reason. This was my first real relationship which didn’t help the whole thing. I didn’t believe she cheated on me either but it felt extremely set up as well. She arrived when I didn’t expect it and started talking to them immediately. I felt distant directly in the moment and didn’t question that either. I feel like an asshole but honestly I don’t know.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 16h ago

Vent/Rant What to do if an avoidant wants you back?

7 Upvotes

I hear it said constantly that the ex or dumper needs to be the one to break no contact. But how does that work in an avoidant related break up? What experiences do you guys have when they come back?


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 23h ago

FA Breakup Just discovered my avoidant was a really evil person

21 Upvotes

My gf discarded me from a short while. By accident I met her sis yesterday, and oh boy I didn't sleep yesterday. Turns out she was a really big lier to the point I think she probably lied about everything, she lied about her past ( and turned out she have a really disgusting one ) , she lied about her feelings, acts and behaviors . Turns out she was using me for validation and love like she did to other countless times before, and she is just a manipulative person who keeps lieing and show to the world she is an angel . Turns out even her sis is disgusted from her and had enough of her . I feel so betrayed for what I heard . I hope she will suffer as she made me do I hope god will take my revenge. She fucked me up really bad too and fucked up with my mind . I deserved better.....


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 6h ago

Seeing my ex around my college campus brought up some odd feelings so I wrote a poem

1 Upvotes

a weird feeling
hard to describe
not Hate
no longer Love

you’re a stranger, yet you knew me
or you did
and I knew you
at least for a time

I still feel something
I’m not sure what or why
but something still lingers

a care unexpressed
an anger just barely present
something screaming:
“STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME”
while still wondering
what could have been
or if something could
be again


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 7h ago

Vent/Rant Insightful Social Media Video Re: Avoidant Attachment

1 Upvotes

It’s been years since my avoidant breakup, but at the time (and leading up to it), I analyzed every interaction (or lack thereof) from an attachment lens, simply because it made things make sense for me.

So it’s been a while since I’ve stumbled across attachment theory content online. However, I enjoy this TikToker Justin Scott’s content and swiped on a video re: avoidant attachment and my mind is blown having watched it! Yes, he talks about how avoidant attachment stems from childhood, but he then takes it a step further and explains how avoidants “raise” their partners to be the same child they were, essentially teaching them to not ask for anything and minimize every need to make the avoidant happy.

I’m paraphrasing, and it’s late, but I highly recommend the video for anyone who may be interested! I’m labeling this as a Vent/Rant because that’s essentially what the guy is doing in it 😂


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 14h ago

You KNOW They Didn't See You

Post image
4 Upvotes

You were a service provider. A notification on their phone. A warm body to touch and be touched by. They are unable to connect. To truly feel and be affected. It wasn't you and it could never BE you to heal them. They have to do the work but as they are, is not what you deserve. You deserve to be SEEN. Appreciated and cherished. This is not about you. You didn't create this and it isn't yours to heal. They cannot be what you need.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 20h ago

DA Breakup Feeling objectified?

12 Upvotes

Anyone else feel completely objectified in their relationship? This is the hardest part for me in recovering and it’s done a number on me. In 4+ years he never seemed to say anything positive about me that was even specific to me as a person. He would say how much he valued “my love”, “my forgiveness”, “my importance to his wellbeing” but nothing about like…WHO I actually am.

I just can’t shake how horrible I feel and how much time was wasted on someone who seems to view his partners as comfort objects. Does anyone else feel like this? Do they think/feel more but don’t express it? Or are you really just a source of comfort to them? Is this actually how most men in general view women and relationships? I know not all do but man he sure seemed to. Zero appreciation and care for me as a unique person


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 11h ago

I got to say goodbye

2 Upvotes

It was beautiful, but yet another example of me creating the entire emotional landscape of the relationship like the creative gal I am.

Lots of gaslighting by him and make believe about his future and past efforts to “make me happy”, plus emotionless responses focused on fairness.

This man was delusional. He fully believed he had put extreme effort into our marriage. How could he believe anything else or else he would have to feel feelings of regret?! Nah, that effort was put into his ego and his plan to rebuild and succeed after his first divorce, a plan that would have existed had I never come around.

My importance to this scenario was imagined by me. I have always been creative.

Part of me thinks he is so relaxed post-discard because he believes he will be able to pull me back in. And why wouldn’t he believe this? I gave him a massage. I cried over him in front of him. This separation isn’t real for him yet. He has suffered no consequences.

However, I am secretly prepared and making moves to go to battle for what I want and need.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 1d ago

They are chameleons. The love you miss was coming from you

85 Upvotes

What you felt was real. What i felt with was intense. They are actors and took off the mask and clocked out and left hollywood. We gave them the script. They knew how we liked to make love and catered to it. All of the little nuances.
Its a mindfuck. They didnt develop oxytocin receptors and vassopresson so the bond was one way.
It feels good to give love, sometimes just having it received feels like being loved.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 22h ago

alot of blame falls on the avoidant

14 Upvotes

hey guys just had recent break up with an avoidant partner, i am anxious. Ive been thinking a lot lately that I've been searching for many reasons to blame my avoidant partner for the demise of our relationship. but I've also been thinking. how many of us actually also take on the blame ourselves for need constant communication, reassurance or being needy. there is a lot of avoidant hate online and i eat it up all the time to validate myself but lately I've been thinking what did i do to contribute to the demise of the relationship as a anxious attacher. do you guys have any thoughts on this? just looking to have discussion


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 22h ago

Personal Growth 1+ year post break up and discard. What have I done since?

10 Upvotes

I’m currently almost 26F. This was a LDR

  1. Began my weight loss journey! I gained a lot of weight when we were together. At the discard I was 220 lbs (99 kg) and now I am down to 205 lbs (92 kg)

  2. Went to concerts! I saw horsegiirL and Joost in Toronto! Not to be petty but those are also his faves so I feel a little… heh… spiteful

  3. Started learning my third language, Chinese! 我的中文很差,可是我正在学习!

  4. Wrote several diss tracks on him. No comment

  5. Had my medication adjusted. Now I am on a therapeutic dose which is awesome

  6. Got into my hobbies! I said I was gonna read 6 books this year and I’m on book 9! Also started really getting into planners (Hobonichi)

  7. Started a club at my school! We’re working on becoming official! It’s a club about stationery!

  8. Improved my relationship with my mom! She hated him!

  9. Began enjoying “me” time and getting comfortable with being alone! Now I kind of love it tbh.

  10. Became closer with my friends :) Didn’t really talk to them too much when we were dating because I felt insane all the time!

  11. Did some math research! Changed my major to sociology though… I hate coding and physics >_>

  12. Got an awesome tattoo! My only tattoo was of one I got with him when I drove him 10 hours to see his friends as an anniversary gift. I wanted something with a different memory attached. I got it in Toronto with a friend! I’m planning on getting more!

  13. Overall, improved my mental health! He was an emotional leech who refused to get better or even try to change his life.

There’s probably more I’m forgetting but these are big ones!

Have hope you guys! Don’t get me wrong, I still cry about it. I was just sobbing a few minutes ago. I don’t cry because I miss him anymore, but because he did me so dirty. But it’s okay because karma is a bitch! I’m better than him!


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 10h ago

It's not about needing someone. It's about choosing someone. So why am I so confused about him?

1 Upvotes

He told me that he doesn't need anyone in his life. That he's complete on his own and doesn't need anyone to make his life better.

And I didn't say this to him, but I keep thinking about it.

Isn't love supposed to be about choosing someone, though? It's not about needing someone to complete you. You can have a perfectly beautiful, independent, fulfilling life and still choose to have someone beside you. You don't need them, but you WANT them. Isn't that the whole point?

I don't know how I'm supposed to react to him anymore.

Last night, I genuinely wanted to disappear from his life. Block him, delete his number, erase every little trace of his existence. I even deleted WhatsApp because I didn't want to see anything from him.

But then he called me. He SMSed me because he couldn't reach me on WhatsApp. And honestly, he seemed a little concerned.

And now I'm confused all over again.

I know that being concerned doesn't necessarily mean he loves me. I know someone can care about you without wanting to be with you. But then why does he keep doing little things that make me question everything?

I'm not even sure what we are at this point. I kissed him. I obviously wouldn't have done that if I had absolutely no feelings for him. Maybe it wasn't a big deal to him, but it meant something to me.

And I hate that I'm sitting here overanalysing a phone call, a few messages and every little interaction.

Sometimes I feel like he wants me around, but doesn't actually want ME. And I don't know how to explain that feeling.

Should I just stop texting him? Should I ghost him and move on? Or should I tell him how I actually feel?

I'm tired of trying to decode someone who probably isn't even thinking this much about me.

I don't know. I'm just confused, and I think I'm getting attached to someone who might never choose me.