“When someone is falling out of love, they may become emotionally distant, avoid physical intimacy, stop expressing affection, or appear detached and unresponsive to emotional needs,” says Brandon Santan, PhD, a Chattanooga-based licensed therapist who specializes in relationships.
It might feel like having noticeably less interest in your partner and feeling less excited about spending time with them, even though you still care about them.
However, it is not uncommon sometimes that people fall “out of love” even after they find that special someone. It is completely natural and there can be dozens of reasons why your loving feelings towards someone can change and the love diminishes even though you once felt so deeply passionate about this person.
It could mean going to couples counseling. “Surround yourself with friends and family who care about you for support while you explore this. It's important to practice self-love and self-care during this time as well,” says Novak. Whatever it is, it's a great idea whether you're falling out of love or not.
You might find yourself wondering if you can lose feelings for someone you love? You might wonder if you actually loved them in the first place. It's totally normal to have times when you feel more or less in love with your partner.
Can Feelings Change Suddenly? Yes, but a sudden change in feelings doesn't necessarily mean your relationship is over or that you're starting to fall out of love. It could actually be a good thing. This could be a good time to reflect on if your relationship is actually working for you.
Communication issues and unrealistic expectations are two of the main reasons people find themselves falling out of love. But there are things that can be done to stop the fall. Relationships are hard work; they should be viewed as investments, particularly if there is a marriage.
Dwindling sex life, sleeping in different rooms and no longer holding hands are among the common signs the magic has gone.
You don't like hanging out together anymore.
"You find yourself avoiding them as opposed to prioritizing them, and you don't miss them when you're not together." If you'd rather spend time away from them than with them, it shows that you're happier alone, which isn't what a relationship is about.
Signs you're falling out of love
You're less interested in spending time with them. You feel more comfortable apart than you feel together. You're thinking about them less and less. They start to feel like a burden.
With a comfortable love, you'll feel safety and trust no matter what. If you're in a relationship for the sake of comfort, you'll feel uncomfortable whenever you're not with them, out of lack of trust in them or the relationship. Realize what love feels like, and don't mistake it for anything else.
“If the idea of physical touch or intimacy feels like something you'd rather not do and you don't have much desire to engage in it, this could be a sign [you're falling out of love],” says Surabhi Jagdish, LMFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist and owner of Revolutionary Reflections.
It's truly possible to take a turn toward getting back the love you once shared with another person. The short answer to the question of whether we can stop ourselves from falling out of love is yes. Staying in love is possible, but like most good things in life, it usually takes some effort.
“I feel like I don't have feelings anymore” is a common experience for people who are developing psychosis or depression or who are recovering from a traumatic experience. It can be unnerving to lose the ability to feel or show your emotions.
Prolonged stress depletes a relationship of its most important components: present-time deep attentiveness and the ability to live in one another's hearts. Stressed-out people cannot maintain those gifts. They forget how to love or allow love to penetrate their preoccupied and pressured world.
A sudden change in feelings doesn't necessarily mean your relationship is over, but this could be a good time to reflect on if this relationship is actually working for you. Although talking to your partner can help, McCullough said you should also be prepared to potentially end your relationship.
Speak up now and break it off. Just be honest and tell your boyfriend that your feelings are waning. More than likely, he's experiencing the same thing.
Further, you might not feel that you still love them. These emotions can be challenging to come to terms with, but they don't have to last. Just as love and attraction can fade, they can also be rekindled with time, effort, and patience—so long as both partners are willing to put the work in.
Even ifyou were the one who initiated the split, there are five stages ofgrief that you will go through. They are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, according to Mental-Health-Matters.
A breakup is a kind of dying—here's how we grieve.
Knowing the phases of grief — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance — can help normalize one's break-up experience.
If you're not being satisfied emotionally, sexually or intellectually, it's probably time to move on. Ending a relationship is hard, but it's sometimes the only correct thing to do. If you and your partner aren't connecting on the most fundamental levels, it will be best for both of you to move on.
Things You Should Know
If you notice yourself taking more risks, planning for a more hopeful future, or taking steps to better yourself, odds are you're falling in love. When you fall in love, your body releases hormones like dopamine that may make you feel excited, euphoric, and/or anxious.