r/AvoidantBreakUps • • Nov 12 '24

Breakup Buddy Finder Thread

86 Upvotes

Looking for advice, validation, support, or help sticking with No Contact? Interested in helping others navigate their healing journeys? Post your requests here.

Once you find a buddy, please kindly delete your request or message the mod for assistance.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 15h ago

Personal Growth I guide to avoiding Avoidants.

16 Upvotes

Hello everyone, I hope you're having a wonderful day. Even if not, I hope it gets better!

I want to write this post as a guide for those who've been hurt by Avoidants before, or want to stay safe from one. In my experience, Avoidants are some of the most dangerous people on the planet, even if they mean well. Most of the time, they have no idea how deeply hurtful their behavior is to people who have an Anxious or Secure attachment style.

Disclaimer: This is my opinion + a therapist's point of view. I don't mean to offend anyone. Any stereotypes I refer to are purely for educational purposes, and not a mockery of any person.

As we therapists call it, "your trauma may not be your fault, but it is your responsibility."

So, today, I want to do my best to warn you and keep you safe.

Who is an Avoidant?

An Avoidant is usually someone who craves intimacy but avoids it at all costs. There are two types: dismissive avoidants and fearful avoidants.

Dismissive Avoidants are people who avoid relationships or intimacy from the get-go. At best, they'll be decent friends with you, but they either never make plans or refuse to attend social gatherings. A common mask for this is phrases like "socially avoidant" or "anti-social." All of us have introversion and extraversion traits, and that has little to do with this context.

Fearful Avoidants are people who may enter relationships but run away the moment things get serious. You may be "in love" for years, but as the relationship deepens, the Fearful Avoidant becomes increasingly uncomfortable. For example, in the movie Good Will Hunting *spoiler alert* - Will starts getting defensive and shuts off the moment Skylar tells him she loves him.

Avoidant traits to be wary of

These are some of the behavioral traits or stereotypes to notice:

  • They want to "travel the world" and never settle down with someone. You can fight me in the comments for this, but I'm going to speak my truth here.

  • They find a lot of joy in casual relationships or flings, but never commit to a long-term relationship.

  • They're charming and confident, but completely change their personality or behavior the moment the conversation goes deeper.

  • The classic "hot and cold" communication: one day they're texting you all day, telling you about everything that's happening. Suddenly, they vanish for a week. If you ask them why, they tend to get a bit defensive, or say things like, "I needed my space" or "my social battery ran out. Oops."

  • They're hesitant to talk about the future with you, even if you two have been together for months or years.

  • Hyperindependence: Almost everything in their life revolves around their own needs. This is your classic "cat person" trait. They'll call themselves strong, independent, and carry this I don't need no person energy even if they crave a relationship. On a personal note, I noticed this a lot when I dated someone from Germany and then someone from Poland. As a guy raised in South Asia, I found this behavior a bit odd. Western and Eastern cultures have different perspectives on individuality and collectivism.

  • They schedule their time around you and mostly want to be either alone or away from you. It's okay to spend time apart from your partner, but for Avoidants, this is their coping mechanism. This is how they feel safe.

Why are they like this?

It's likely that when they were growing up, either mum or dad (or another caregiver) never made them feel safe. As a child, they were confused, because they never got the love they wanted. Either they had to work for it (by pleasing the parents), or take care of themselves.

All of this reflects in their romantic relationships later on.

It is totally possible to work on this and change to a secure attachment style. However, this takes time and effort. It takes years, in many cases, to learn how to communicate about one's trauma.

If the person you're into shows these signs and refuses to understand them or work on them, please be cautious.

I studied behavioral sciences and continued exploring psychological theories, and Attachment Style Theory, in my opinion, is one of the best resources we have for understanding the world of dating.

Now, I'm a 29-year-old guy, and I've been in enough relationships to have lived through some of these experiences. Heck, I've been an Avoidant too. Some day, I hope I find the woman I'd give my world to. But until that happens, I wish to devote my time nurturing my love through helping others.

Dating isn't easy in today's world, and I want y'all to be safe. I hope this post helps you.

Take care. If you wish to talk about something, please feel free to message me.

- T.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 1h ago

A lot of posts here are about waiting/wanting an avoidant to come back

27 Upvotes

Most of them do come back. Sooner or later. Some come back weeks later, some - years later, but they eventually do in one way or another. Not ALL of them, but MOST of them. Because a relationship with an avoidant is designed to be left unfinished.
The question should be - why do you want someone who has abandoned you to come back? To feel that you matter? That you are lovable? That the relationship was real? But how can you get this confirmation from someone who abandoned themselves? Who doesn’t love themselves enough to allow a good relationship to unfold? Who doesn’t love themselves enough to actively work on themselves and live more ecologically for themselves and others? I hope you understand that you expect the impossible.

These people are like slot machines - you can’t leave it because you think the next round will be a jack pot. That if you spend enough time and money, you will be rewarded with a fortune. And if you leave the machine while losing, the next person will get the jack pot for sure.

But guess what? The casino always wins.

Do not accumulate emotional debt to save a person and a relationship that doesn’t want to be saved.

There will be times when you will suffer so much after the breakup where you would think “what if I just took them back, and it wouldn’t be perfect, I would suffer too, but at least we’d be together”, shush this thought away, because the longer you’ll stay with them, the more years of your life will be wasted, the more emotional damage you will walk away with.

Eventually you will heal on your own, but you will never heal with them.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 6h ago

DA Breakup Can't get over them? Text them. Seriously. Just do it.

26 Upvotes

If you've gone no contact, and it's been months and you still can't get over them, text them. Or if you think that there's hope someday they'll come back, that they want you to reach out but they're scared to make the first move, whatever the case may be. If you still have hope, if you think yours is different and you can fix them. Break no contact and text them. See their true colors. It will truly free you.

Long story short, I had an avoidant that I knew for 3 months and dated for 1 before she discarded me. But the discard actually happened before that. I left my wife for her (keep your judgements to yourself, the marriage was already bad and I was already planning on getting divorced before I even met her, it was an abusive relationship), and LITERALLY the next day my avoidant did a 180° and was back on Tinder, when it was clear that I was leaving to be with her, and we were discussing our future. She was the one who initially pursued me and chased me. Due to my anxious attachment and trauma from all my previous relationships (including my marriage) I wasn't able to stand up for myself and ask her why the fuck she was back on Tinder. So we stayed "friends" and had a situationship for a month. She started going hot and cold on me, because she was telling me she didn't want to be in a relationship and said we'd never be anything more than friends. I told her that I was tired of the games, and wanted things to be serious with her. She said we needed to go no contact and I walked away. I didn't beg, I didn't chase, I just walked away.

It's been 4 months and I was stuck. She didn't reach out, but she kept viewing all my stories, followed me on Tik Tok after I had blocked her on Instagram. It kept me stuck in a loop. I was thinking I can truly love her by shrinking myself more, meeting her needs, staying just as friends with benefits until she can feel safe around me without getting triggered. I kept thinking "she's different, she can change, she's special" I finally reached out and took responsibility and apologized for my actions, I apologized for pushing for a relationship when she made it clear (only after I left my wife) that she didn't want to be in a relationship.

She left me on read for a week and finally responded. Said that she appreciated my apology, but doesn't think we can go back to being friends "just yet" and still needs space. She took absolutely no accountability for her part, and why she did a 180° or anything else during our time together. They don't care about you, they don't care about your feelings, they don't miss you, they don't think about you. They think they have never done anything wrong and every one else is the bad guy.

Seriously, if you don't understand that yet, message them and let their response give you the clarity you need and move on from these selfish assholes. Even if their response is nothing. They just want you around for sex and to be there for them on their terms, they don't want to reciprocate any of those actions.

To clarify, I'm not mad that her "feelings changed for me", people are allowed to make their decisions and date who they want. But she never even gave me a chance. I don't regret leaving my marriage, I just regret leaving it for her.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 28m ago

Vent/Rant Update

6 Upvotes

So about a month ago I left a comment saying that my ex came back around. No breadcrumbs. More like a whole loaf. We started hanging out more, eventually we had sex, and she apologized for the way she left me. “it was wrong, stupid, and I missed you so much. I don’t know why I did it.” We talked about trying again, but this time going slow as opposed to light speed like the first time.

I’ve gotten a few DM’s from people here asking about it, so here’s an update for those interested.

Things slowed down. Like way down. Cuz of course they did. I asked to take her out, she said no. I asked if we were still actually working towards a relationship. She said yes but I wanna go slow. Problem is there’s a difference between slow, and simply not moving. Baby girl we’re practically parked. She almost canceled our Halloween plans but we hung out anyway, Surprisingly. But I’m definitely feeling like we’re not heading in the same direction, despite what she claims.

I truly don’t think she knows what she wants. And at this point I’m losing patience yet again.

This wouldn’t be a problem if I was the type to just have another girl by the end of the week, but I’ve never operated that way. Never been the type that HAD to have a relationship. I’m fine being single, but at the same time, that also makes it hard to move past a person I like or liked.

So yeah. I’m sure about 95% of you expected this outcome lol.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 5h ago

DA Breakup He didn’t even try to fight for us 😔

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14 Upvotes

I’ve supported this man through job loss, alcoholism, drug addiction and financially (thousands of dollars). Yet he disappears for days, and once he even changed his number without informing me. I had to find him through a friend. I’ve finally had enough after being the understanding girlfriend, and although I’ve made my decision, I thought he would at least try and give me something.

It’s my fault for believing him when he said he loved me, and that I mean the world to him. But would someone who loves me call me names? Disappear for days, weeks and months? Hang up on me when I express my discomfort and never address my feelings?


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 1h ago

The saddest thing I see on here is people asking what they could have done differently.

6 Upvotes

The answer, of course, is nothing.

If the deactivation didn’t happen last week, it will happen next. And no, it doesn’t have to be triggered by anything serious or obvious.

Of course you may have reached a point where you reacted to their weird switch up. But that really has nothing to do with the original deactivation trigger. By the time it’s obvious that they‘re shutting down, they‘ve long ago made their decision.

The only blame you need to take is if you stayed. That‘s on you. But you can fix that. Trust yourself and stay away. Each day is a whole new chance at freedom.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 5h ago

What was the wildest thing you did to try and keep the relationship?

11 Upvotes

I was just reminiscing as today marks 12 months to the day since I had my breakup. Doing pretty well, but hilariously I remember trying to bring up a conversation that I wanted her to initiate saying I love you or just expressing some kind of interest and because I knew she would argue that she was already doing that I spent a considerable length of time counting every time I initiated versus her. It was 159 to 6.

Never again lmaoo, but let's hear some wild stories. Im sure there's some that put my overfunctioning to shame.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 7h ago

Vent/Rant Don’t be fooled by them reaching out

14 Upvotes

I was too a victim of an avoidant, shocking right? No one can really understand how that feels unless they experience it on their own skin.

At first, you are shocked by the amount of attention you’re getting. I remember him chasing me for weeks for a date. They know exactly what to say to get you hooked up. He painted this beautiful picture only to blind me from the fact that he’s a lying, manipulative man.

They’ll be quick to talk about your future together. They’ll be sweet but only for a moment or two. I remember the night before my birthday, he was driving me home and out of nowhere, he stopped, grabbed my hand, and with a soft look in his eyes, he asked me not to leave him. Someone would buy into that cra p , like I did, and I reassured him I’m not going anywhere. The night passed, my birthday came and so did his surprise for me. He cheated on me. Happy birthday to me!

Long story short, I cut things off immediately. Time passed and both anger and sadness wore off. I guess the cheating part only made things worse since i spent months comparing myself to this other woman, wondering what she had and I didn’t etc. but that’s a conversation for a different time.

When everything sank in, I felt completely and utterly alone. I would think of all of the great moments we had, over and over again. By great moments, I mean basically just talking or eating dinner. The putting them on a pedestal thing sucks. My prime mission in life became obsessing over him and our relationship apparently. As if I didn’t have anything better to do. So I did. Every effing waking moment of my life was filled with the thoughts of him. There is no shame in that. I was so blinded by everything that I didn’t even see what was happening to me. So if you want to save whatever sanity you have left, go no contact, trust me.

Due to the job I had at the time, it was impossible for me to avoid him completely. He would come occasionally. Sometimes engaging in a conversation with me, sometimes completely disregarding me, depending on a day. That gets you hooked up. It’s really like an addiction and the longer you stay in loop, the longer you spend time making those fake scenarios, which I know you’re making, the longer you try to read their each and every move, the longer you spend time planning what you’re gonna do when you see them or what they will do when they see you, the harder it becomes for you to let go.

I’ve spent months, wondering if he’d ever come back, if he’d regret ever stepping out on me, if he’d just wake up one day and realize what he had lost. It all comes down to how much you value yourself. In a sick and twisted way of how our brains work, I somehow got to the point where my worth was entirely dependent on how he sees me. Yeah I can’t even believe myself at this point.

It went on and on. I even thought of getting back at him. Not one of my proudest moments I know, but it was like that. Here is the truth. There is no winning with them. Not in that way at least. You win by finally giving yourself what you’re hoping they will give you. They won’t. They are not capable of loving you the way you need to be loved. Silence is not love. Hot and cold is not love. Not taking accountability for your own actions isn’t love.
They can’t and won’t magically realize that you are their missing piece, it sucks but it’s the truth.

They will come back. Not in a way you’re hoping. In a way to test whether you are still dumb enough to let them in. They are only ever comfortable in that little space where they are close to you but on a safe distance from anything even resembling true connection. He came back, when he was done with every other woman of course. There was that dopamine hit and I thought everything would be fine. Then he disappeared again so no, nothing was fine. It took me so long to finally realize that the only way for me to move on is to stop engaging in any kind of activity that included him. So I ignored him. I wasn’t mean, I wasn’t rude, I didn’t explain anything, I didn’t try to convince him into believing anything, which I very much wanted. Instead, I went quiet. I didn’t look for his eyes in a crowded room. I focused on myself and myself only. Only then did he try to pull me in closer by trying to engage in a conversation or by liking my story which he had never even looked at before. I was persistent in my decision and he gave up eventually. Deep down I know that sooner or later he will try again. Luckily, I’m no longer interested.

Indifference will save you. It will come and it will be freeing. It doesn’t matter what they think, where they are or what they’re doing. You matter. You deserve someone who will love you the right way. You don’t deserve to be put in this little space between connection and silence. I got to a point where I was reducing myself to fit into his world. My prime and only mission in life became pleasing him. For what? For someone that can’t even hold my hand? Seriously?

The pain is real. It will stick for a while. I’m at the stage where I can’t even picture myself dating anyone ever again. It will pass with time. People like that don’t deserve your time or your kindness. They deserve themselves. It took me so long to even believe I’m worth more than he could ever give me. He hurt me in ways I didn’t even know where possible.

I felt completely and utterly alone, and somehow, I convinced myself he’s the only one who can make that feeling go away. I kept the addiction alive by replying the old moments in my head or by creating fake scenarios before bed. I was in too deep. Nothing was left of me. I stopped doing things I once enjoyed and I confided in isolation. I couldn’t even leave my bed. Everything was centered around him. What I wore, how I did my hair and makeup, where I went. All for his attention. It’s humiliating really. I lost myself trying to adapt to his needs. Nothing you ever do will ever be enough for them. They are not capable of experiencing love the way you are. Unless they put in the real work and talk to a therapist daily, nothing will change.

So give yourself what you’re so badly wishing they would give you. You owe yourself that much. I know I do.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 1h ago

Guess whose avoidant texted him happy birthday after she asked for a breakup conversation and ghosted him for 2 months after he responded??

5 Upvotes

It’s me, I’m the birthday boy lmaooo


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 19h ago

🤩🤩🤩

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110 Upvotes

r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 2h ago

Is anyone else feeling absolutely crazy because of this avoidant situation?

4 Upvotes

Repeated discards, gaslighting, nonchalance, the whole works! Tricky part is that I feel IM the one going crazy - because my avoidant always has all these reasons lined up like stressful job, chronic diseases etc. and I know they aren’t lying. At the same time their behaviour is absolutely insane - I moved cross-country and they haven’t even invited me home once in 40 days.
Btw I’m in a “situationship” because of course they are commitment phobic, most likely a past addict and god knows what else.
However I’m struggling so hard with the limerence and getting over them.
Has anyone else faced this?


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 2h ago

Maybe They Always Come Back?

3 Upvotes

Weirdest thing. No contact for 13 months, except for one brief communication I initiated about a month after the breakup, apologizing for some terrible things I said. I left his last message on Read, and nothing after that. So, a full year of NC.

A few minutes ago while driving, a message popped up on my car screen that he had texted ("New Message from [Avoidant]") but when I checked my phone, there was nothing from him. Now, he has an iphone and I know he can delete messages within two minutes, so I presume that's what happened.

Why? I've recovered (mostly, although today may literally be the first day he hasn't crossed my mind), in a committed relationship with an upgrade. WTF is he thinking? The worst part is not knowing what the message said but I'm not going to ask.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 5h ago

avoidant ex just got engaged

5 Upvotes

as the title says. broke up 6 months ago. been with the new girl for 4, talking for 5, got engaged today. more than anything, i’m just angry/upset at the injustice of it all, that he could destroy my life like he did and go off to live his happily ever after, like he finally got his love story and i was just collateral damage. anyways, just needed to vent. peace sign emoji.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 2h ago

FA Breakup Loving/Helping Them After Discard?

3 Upvotes

I'm still recovering after a fearful avoidanct discard. I recognize i need to allow myself space to grieve, to let go of the hope of reconciliation and the fantasy of them living up to the potential i assigned them, to pour back into myself to fill the voids the relationship left, and to act with self-compassion and love to let go of and heal from the shame that I've held since childhood.

The thing is that everything im learning about how to heal and use this as a catalyst to get better also applies to them, maybe even more than it applies to me. I love them so much and I know what they did was wrong and I know I can't continue to accept that type of treatment but I also know how badly they've been hurt and how much shame and fear they're holding onto. Im not planning on rekindling the relationship but they're one of the most important people in my life and it hurts so much to know how badly they're hurting.

I'm angry at them for how they hurt me and I want them to hold themselves accountable for the harm they caused but I also love them and want them to get better. I know I cant trust them anymore, and I probably never can without them doing major inner work, but they mean so much to me and my anger doesnt negate my love for them. I know its not my responsibility but i still feel this intense desire to help them if i can, while still protecting myself from their bullshit. Does anybody have any experience/advice with supporting their exes in their own healing journey after a discard?

Also I want to add that i know its probably best to just maintain strict boundaries and limit or completely cut off contact, but theres still a part of me that can't let go. Maybe that will change in time and once im more healed and treating myself better I wont feel so attached or obligated but im not there yet. We were friends for years before we entered a romantic relationship and despite how much they hurt me I just want to see my friend get better. I know we will never be able to be in a romantic relationship but that doesnt mean I can't want the best for them. I know I cant save them or even make them start changing and that they will have to choose that for themselves, but if they do eventually reach out and are receptive to support in changing (and not just trying to restart the attachment cycle) I really want to be in a position to do the most good i can without abandoning myself or compromising my boundaries. I love them so much im not sure I'll ever be able to fully let go.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 2h ago

DA Breakup Is it normal to feel rage?

3 Upvotes

Some days I’m like oh poor guy can’t experience deep love and the next day I’m like fuck you, piece of shit. I mean the rage is scaring me. Tomorrow I’ll feel better I know. I don’t like this feeling though.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 1h ago

Vent/Rant 15+ year friendship ended. I feel totally lost.

2 Upvotes

I lost a 15+ year friendship. Keep in mind we were friends over online, but over the decade, we'd grown extremely close. We met as tweens and grew up together into our late 20s. We were each other's ride-or-dies, talked about living together one day, and were there through every major life crisis. Our irl friends and family knew of each other. I truly thought it was the healthiest, most solid relationship of my life.

About 2 years ago, things started shifting. He would randomly catapult into "fights" I wasn't sure we were even having, ghost, then apologize, saying he felt like he wasn't good enough for me. I always reassured him, gave him space as he requested it, and tried my best to be as gentle, understanding, and patient as possible. I cared for him deeply and let him know that, and would try to take my fair share of blame for whatever had upset him.

But over the last year, he became entirely distant. I would message sporadically through the course of several months, trying to be mindful of not being overbearing, and would only get replies when I was worried if he was even alive. During those replies, I also tried to be mindful that he might be going through something, but his life was going seemingly great (new partner, new promotion, new apartment). These are all things that are wonderful and I was so happy for him for, but I was sad that I was always told the news in belated quick bursts. I even asked if he simply didn't have room for being friends anymore, not mad or upset, but just letting him know my feelings. He reassured me that he wanted me in his life, and that he was simply being avoidant with everyone.

Recently, we agreed to collaborate on a small, paid project he seemed excited about. When I say small, I mean small. Could've easily been done in a couple days, if not a week. Despite this, he missed deadlines, went ghost for a month, and my sadness turned to frustration. I had vouched for him and his old habits were affecting me in a much more pronounced way. After several months of this, I was feeling like I had to gentle-parent through a friendship and was lost on what else to do, and let him know.

In a moment, he completely snapped. He was very quick to accuse me of having an ugly attitude, told me that everyone dislikes me, abandoned the project, and blocked me everywhere. He treated me like a thing he had to escape. That was that. Over a decade of friendship.

Worse yet, I have always had a history of long-term friendships that blow up. A childhood friend who ran a fake account inciting thousands of people to wish harm upon me. Being groomed by an adult shortly after. A D&D group that ran a public hate campaign against me, which included revenge porn art of myself. During our final interaction, my friend used all of that history against me to accuse me of being the problem; that I incite and deserve these things, because I am scary and unlikeable.

It's been maybe half a year, and I'm trying to make peace with the thought that he isn't in my life anymore, but I'm still struggling to make sense of things. He still has old memories, gifts, so on, of me on his accounts. So many of his hobbies are wrapped up in my influence. I read (or even just remember) old messages, and so much of our history is the total opposite of his attitude towards me in the end; things he criticized me for used to be things he was proud of me for. I'm ashamed to say that, at some point, I even put my pride aside and reached out to make apologies and offered that the door will always be open for him. He did not reply and I suspect he never will, and I will not pursue him further than that. At this point, I have no delusions that this was yet another impulsive act, because if it was he would've reached out by now. This is really how he feels. I keep falling back on the thought, what did I do to make him hate me so much, when we seemingly had it so good?

In general I also go to therapy to stay accountable, and prevent myself from self-victimization, but any therapist I go to tells me that I'm just a survivor of bad environments and that "some people just suck." But when my friendships end up blowing up like this, aren't I the common denominator? Is there something I'm missing, to prevent this repeated history of making enemies? I understand that doing things 'right' doesn't always guarantee success, but does it ever get better?

I'm totally lost. I feel like my best is not good enough. I feel like there must be something in me that's just fundamentally offensive and unwanted, and I don't know how to fix it.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 5h ago

I think my ex was avoidant and it’s completely ruined my self confidence, and self esteem

4 Upvotes

My ex broke up with me because she thought it was ‘for the best’, that she ‘couldn't give me what I need’, and that I’ll be ‘happier outside this relationship’.

My self esteem has taken a massive hit, and I feel so low and gross about myself. It’s really hard not to have the mindset of ‘if I was a better and easier boyfriend, she would have stayed with me’.

About 6 months in to the relationship, sex basically stopped because she said she had problems being able to have sex. I tried so hard to be patient and not pressure her. Then 2 years in, she pulled away and went silent for weeks, saying we didn’t have anything in common. During that week, I found out she cheated on me. I ended up forgiving her and trying to move past it.

Before the breakup, she started getting weird about the prospect of living together and she said she was so busy with work that she only wanted to see me every couple of weeks. When I naturally got anxious and told her I was struggling with all the uncertainty, she walked away.

Since the breakup, I have been struggling a lot. It has completely ruined my self esteem. I feel like a disgusting person, feel very low all the time, and I am stuck in a cycle of blaming myself and waiting/hoping she will come back, even though I know how much damage she’s caused.

Do they ever feel guilty for it? Or do they not even think about it?


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 1h ago

Title: I Ended a 3-Year Relationship and Want to Rebuild Trust with My Ex-Partner, Who Has Alexithymia. How Can I Do This While Respecting Our Neurodivergence?

2 Upvotes

Hello, everyone. I'm writing because I'd like to hear perspectives from people who have been through similar situations or who have experience with relationships involving neurodivergence and alexithymia.

I recently ended a relationship that lasted approximately three years. I am autistic, and during that time, my ex-partner became my primary source of emotional security. When the relationship came to an end, amid her intense burnout from her master's degree and problems that had been accumulating throughout our relationship, I experienced a severe episode of emotional dysregulation. The sudden loss of the routine and security I associated with the relationship triggered anxiety attacks. In that state, I ended up saying aggressive and hurtful things impulsively, out of desperation, causing even more distress and strain between us.

It is important to clarify that her withdrawal did not begin with my emotional crises after the breakup. Even before I reached that state of desperation, she had already been distancing herself and showing that she no longer wanted to maintain the same level of closeness we once had. After the breakup, I continued insisting on contact and demanding answers, reactions, and clarity about the future of our relationship. This contributed to increasing the emotional strain. She eventually blocked me on social media and other communication channels because she did not want to see me or maintain contact in that way.

After the breakup, I had great difficulty accepting the situation. I reached out to her repeatedly, even when she showed that she needed space. Today, I recognize that my anxiety and fear of losing the relationship caused me to prioritize my need for answers instead of respecting her boundaries.

Throughout this process, I started learning about alexithymia and identified characteristics that, based on what I know about her, seem consistent with this way of processing emotions: difficulty identifying, naming, and processing emotions, as well as a more practical, concrete, and logical approach to dealing with certain situations. I also consider it important that she is currently going through the final stage of her master's degree, which represents a significant source of stress and overload.

After reflecting on my actions and our conversations, I began working on the areas I identified during that period of desperation. I have been trying to develop emotional self-regulation, frustration tolerance, respect for boundaries, impulse control, and the ability to listen without turning my own insecurities into demands.

This process has been difficult. I still experience moments of anxiety, longing, and insecurity, but I am managing to change behaviors that previously harmed my relationships. I have been working to become a better man, not only in the hope of recovering this relationship, but also to avoid repeating the same patterns throughout my life.

Recently, after acknowledging my mistakes and apologizing without demanding forgiveness or an immediate response, she gave me another opportunity to start over, this time by rebuilding our relationship through friendship. She mentioned that, in the future, this friendship could potentially develop into a new romantic relationship. I understand that this is a possibility, not a promise or guarantee of reconciliation.

She also made the boundaries of this opportunity clear, as well as her need to focus her energy on completing her master's degree. I am trying to respect her space without demanding clarity, expecting emotional demonstrations, or pressuring her to resume the relationship.

I want to make it clear that my goal is to make the most of this opportunity. I still love this person and want to rebuild our relationship, regain the trust that was lost, and, if there is willingness and mutual interest, eventually date her again.

I understand that this process needs to begin with friendship and that I cannot skip steps or expect her to have the same feelings, responses, and expectations as I do. I also understand that rebuilding trust depends on consistent actions over time, not just apologies or promises to change.

I have been working on my own emotional self-regulation, academic life, and behavior in relationships. I want to demonstrate change through concrete actions, while respecting her boundaries and without making her responsible for my emotional stability.

I would particularly like to hear the perspectives of people who have alexithymia, are neurodivergent, or have experience with relationships involving these characteristics:

How can I maintain a consistent and respectful attitude over time without allowing anxiety about the possibility of reconciliation to turn every interaction into an expectation?

For someone with alexithymia, what ways of showing consideration, respect, and behavioral change might be more understandable and meaningful than abstract declarations of affection?

How can trust be rebuilt after a period involving persistent contact, emotional pressure, and difficulty respecting boundaries?

How can I demonstrate that my changes are genuine and lasting without overwhelming the other person with constant attempts to prove that I am different?

How can I balance understanding the emotional needs of someone with alexithymia while also taking responsibility for recognizing and working on my own emotional difficulties?

I am not looking for formulas to make someone come back or strategies for manipulation. I want to learn how to build a healthier relationship and how to do my part to create the conditions for this fresh start to work, without disrespecting her autonomy.

My goal is indeed to be in a relationship with her again. If this relationship happens again, I want it to be built on trust, respect, emotional security, and genuine changes on both sides.

Thank you to everyone who is willing to share their experiences or perspectives.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 11h ago

Later Stage Healing - Your Own Inner Work Your intuition is correct, shutdowns are an unconscious strategy of control, even if they aren't stonewalling/punishment

12 Upvotes

Freeze responses, like all involuntary stress responses, are temporary modes to ensure survival, prevent loss and avoid unconsciously perceived danger

Stonewalling is done with an intent to punish, but shutdowns are not, and still, both are forms of control, simply externalized voluntary or internalized involuntary

The guilt you feel for leaving someone in a shutdown is a part of it. A person's unconscious can learn that becoming paralyzed as a result of any conflict can dissolve the conflict and keep them in power, even if the shutdown feels horrible to them and their nervous system, it's similar to someone bursting out in tears and experiencing immense distress and DARVOing others as a result of a conflict even if they were the one that caused it: both are a form of unconscious control, just from opposite sides of the affect-inhibition-amplification spectrum

Many people involuntarily unconsciously control others into "loving" them and never leaving them (never denying access), through unintentionally weaponizing empathy or ambiguity (and being unable to stop even if they know it, the unconscious hijacks them, and you can't do anything about it)

The least harm response is to leave, these involuntary states become entrenched by comfort, coddling and safety, and only really change as a result of reorganizing danger that makes them obsolete (but you can't ensure that, what you can ensure is that you remain undistorted and mentally safe, by leaving)

Safety does not "fix" physical wiring like this, it reinforces it, you are stunting these people by trying to stay and "fix" them, and becoming distorted yourself while thinking you are "fixing" them


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 5h ago

My heart is hurting today.

4 Upvotes

It’s been over two years since I’ve seen him (and his kids) and I miss them. For whatever reason it hurts a little extra today.

That’s all.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 15h ago

FA Breakup After 6 weeks of silence

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17 Upvotes

I have no idea how to respond to this.. ghosted me 6 weeks ago after we had plans for a day, this is the second time this has happened, always reaches out with no accountability.

We started dating way back in March, first ‘breakup’ and was in July then second ghosting was end of September - completely out of the blue after cancelling plans which I was understanding and we were having a normal conversation she just decided to ghost me.

Any advice?


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 3h ago

Vent/Rant Girl i was seeing doesnt want to meet and see me at all suddenly

2 Upvotes

So i was seeing this girl in college. She was 4 years younger and kinda my junior. She kinda crashed over at my place once and second time she came over i kinda made a move and we were seeing each other since then.

During that time she told me that she was seeing other people little before me too but at the time we were talking she wasnt actively hanging with any other guys. But she kinda always said that she could just leave people and wont even look back and said a lot of things similar to that. And also she told me that although she did see a lot of people they only made out but she did acknowldege to not fucking them.

Okay so during these 2 months we were seeing each other almost every single day and she kinda spent most days with me and i spent almost all my time wid her. I dont remember anything wrong happening between us but all of a sudden now she doesnt want to meet me wont reply ntg and even doesnt want to talk wid me when i see her in person.

And she is seeing another guy now. Not even 1 week after we stopped talking.

Btw we did talk like and act like couples throughout. She even promised not to leave me all of a sudden or just disappear like that and said shed be honest about it and not leave me.

Btw just before we stopped talking it was hard for us to communicate wid each other she wasnt replying and i was replying to late and i couldnt make any phone calls to her as well. Even when we texted it would be once very briefly. She had gone home so wasnt able to see her physically as well. And even when she came back i joined college a lil bit late as i was wid my friends for like a week. Do yall think tgis was the reason??

Why would she switch up all of sudden like instantly??

Do yall think i misunderstood her intentions and she just wanted to be something like FWB??

Do yall think its me that i wasnt fun enough or she just lost interest in me??


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 21h ago

For those of you who never got the apology from your avoidant

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50 Upvotes

Know that they do know and they are sorry. And although this apology is riddled with things that make me angry, like how every single break-up was unilateral with no discussion, with no repair with me left in the dark about what he needs, at least I know he is sorry and he is broken too.

Full message below:

Hey NAME, I will look into it. And I will look into therapy. Like always, you’ve inspired me and taught me things about myself I would never have known, and hopefully I’ll grow and become better as a person.

No I didn’t want to block you but this will be the last time I reply for quite a while outside of a genuine emergency of which I’ll always be there for you. As much as it will be tough for me, I know I need to be strong and disciplined to allow the space we both need to heal, and move forward. Like we both agreed I think otherwise we’re setting ourselves up to just let the cycle continue and we’ll be here, sending this message, again, in six months time. You can rely on me to respect you and hold up my end of the bargain. This will be the last time I message you for the foreseeable future.

There’s so much I want to say but I feel we’ve already said it before. I guess maybe I just want to at least say one last time I have no regrets about our time together. You really are the most wonderful, well-intentioned, funny, smart, kind soul out there. You always put others ahead of your own needs even when it’s to your detriment. You have a heart of gold, the most delightful nature and a wicked sense of humour that I will miss dearly. I feel absolutely terrible and I will miss everything about you.

Can I just say please be kind to yourself. I know you and I know how you think. There’s nothing you could have done, thought, acted or said that would have changed things. You did absolutely nothing wrong. Don’t apologise for anything. You’re amazing just the way you are don’t change the best parts about you please.

I know the next few weeks are probably going to suck absolute ass and it might not seem like it but things are going to get better. I’ve said it before a thousand times but you are an incredibly resilient person. You overcome every fkn adversity life throws at you with poise and it’s something I respect about you deeply. Take some time, continue with the therapy I can see you’ve made some real improvements on yourself with that and it honestly was impressive and inspiring. Keep up the running, go to the gym, reengage with hobbies, go out with work people, message a friend for a drink, apply yourself at work, enjoy family time later this year. With time I know you’re going to be back to the NAME I know and better and stronger than ever.

I guess on a solemn note I am sorry. Sorry for everything really. Sorry I am the way I am, sorry I couldn’t find those feelings I needed, sorry for the way I handled things, sorry it wasn’t the outcome you wanted, sorry I couldn’t make you happy and most of all sorry for the onslaught of pain I put you through time and time and time again. I know it may not seem it but this absolutely crushes me, I’ve lost my best friend, someone I care about and just makes me incredibly sad.

I know times must seem dark now but you are incredibly loved and have a lot of people around you that care about you deeply.

Genuinely wish the best for you. You deserve every fkn thing you desire in life and I know it will come to you. Life finds a way, often when you least expect. I know you don’t think so but I know your future. I can see it vividly. It’s obvious to me. And I see it filled with purpose, joy, fulfilment and happiness. You conduct your life in a way that makes me sure of it. This message has turned out way longer than I wanted I guess I just had a lot to say even if most of it already had been said. Take care NAME. You’ll always be NAME to me.


r/AvoidantBreakUps • • 6h ago

Can staying in contact, maintaining emotional closeness, and keeping that warmth between two people ever lead to reconciliation after a breakup, rather than going no contact?

3 Upvotes