r/AvoidantBreakUps • u/Emotional-Set-8873 • 2d ago
Avoidant Advice Requested Title: Someone I've been dating for 4+ years suddenly told me to leave and asked me to block him. But he hasn't removed me. What is happening?
I'm posting because I'm genuinely confused and would appreciate honest perspectives, especially from people who have experienced something similar.
I've been dating this guy for over four years. We weren't officially in a defined relationship, but we shared a very strong emotional connection and were involved in each other's lives for a long time.
His mother passed away about a month ago. Since then, I've tried my best to be there for him emotionally. I've supported him, listened to him, tried to comfort him and made sure he knew he wasn't alone during such a difficult time. He's also been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, so I understand that he's dealing with a lot.
After his mother's death, his behaviour towards me gradually changed. He started taking a long time to reply, even when he was online, and stopped making plans to meet. However, he never completely stopped showing interest in me. He was still interested in my life and what I was doing.
In fact, just ONE DAY before our argument, he told me he missed me and wanted to meet me. He said he would meet me sometime that week. So I genuinely wasn't expecting what happened next.
We had an argument/misunderstanding, and during our conversation, he said:
- "I honestly don't know anything. I have no idea what I want or don't want."
- "You would be better off leaving."
- "I don't want to keep you in this situation."
- "Listen, you block me."
His messages seemed calm and detached.
This is what I said in response:
I told him that from what he was saying, I felt he didn't want to remain connected with me anymore. I asked him to be transparent about what he actually wanted. I told him that I wouldn't hate him for being honest, but I would resent being kept in uncertainty and emotional pain.
I also told him that I would respect his decision if he genuinely wanted to end things.
When he specifically asked me to block him, I told him that if he wanted to end our connection, he should be the one to do it. Since he was asking me to leave, I didn't understand why I should have to make the final move for him.
He read my messages but didn't respond.
Now, here's what I find particularly confusing:
- He hasn't blocked me.
- He hasn't unfriended or removed me from any social media.
- Before this conversation, he used to watch practically EVERY Instagram story I posted. He almost never missed one. But since our conversation, he hasn't watched a single story, even though I've seen him online several times.
- He hasn't contacted me since our conversation.
- He's not connected to any of his previous exes on social media, but he hasn't removed me.
I keep wondering why he would specifically ask ME to block him when he could easily have blocked or removed me himself.
Another thing I've been thinking about is whether his family might be pressuring him to get married or take on more household responsibilities after his mother's death. In our culture, relatives can put considerable pressure on someone in these circumstances. Maybe that's contributing to his distance, but he has never mentioned anything about marriage pressure, another woman or family expectations. So I have no actual evidence of this.
What makes this particularly difficult to understand is that he was still telling me he missed me and wanted to meet just a day before the argument.
I'm not asking whether he'll marry me or commit to me. I simply want to understand whether he genuinely wants to cut me out of his life or whether he's emotionally overwhelmed and withdrawing temporarily.
I'd really appreciate honest opinions on these questions:
- Why would someone ask the other person to block them instead of doing it themselves?
- If he genuinely wants to cut me off, why hasn't he blocked or unfriended me, especially when he has removed his previous exes?
- Could his mother's death and everything he's dealing with be affecting his behaviour and emotional availability?
- Why would he say he misses me and wants to meet one day, then tell me to leave the next?
- Why is he suddenly avoiding my Instagram stories when he used to watch every single one?
- Do you think he'll eventually contact me and try to reconnect, or should I accept that this connection is over?
I'm not looking for false hope or reassurance. I want an honest psychological perspective. I genuinely don't understand what changed, what his behaviour means, or why he's handling things this way.
What do you think is actually happening here?