You know he regrets losing you if he constantly contacts you, reminisces about good times, shows jealousy or regret when you move on, seeks you out through social media, or tries to "fix" past issues to win you back, often showing a mix of longing and confusion, realizing the void your absence creates in his life, especially for big moments he can't share with you.
7 subtle signs someone secretly regrets letting you go, according to psychology
Guilty conscience often appears as avoidant, defensive, or overcompensating behavior across emotional, communicative, sexual, and practical domains. Multiple, sudden deviations from his normal baseline combined with inconsistent explanations are the strongest signals.
Not always. Missing someone is a personal feeling, and it doesn't guarantee they feel the same. But sometimes, deep connections make people think of each other at the same time. The only way to know is through honest communication.
The depression/regret phase can occur approximately at around the 3 week mark of the no contact rule. Of course, according to our moderator this model is not linear. Every ex is unique and depending on their attachment style they may feel regret around the 6 week mark.
How long it takes for a man to miss you after absence varies, but often starts with a few days to a couple of weeks, deepening over several weeks to a few months as habits break and he realizes your significant impact or value in his life, especially if you shared routines or were deeply attached, with some men realizing it sooner, others taking longer.
Losing a great woman can indeed lead to regret for many men. This feeling typically arises when they compare subsequent relationships or when they face challenges that the previous partner navigated with ease. The qualities that made her great—such as compassion, understanding, and support—are often missed profoundly.
Signs that your ex misses you include talking to friends about you, continuing to follow you on social media and posting a lot to get your attention, not dating anyone else, reaching out to your family, trying to improve upon previous mistakes, calling when they're drunk, and showing up at places they know you'll be.
The 2-2-2 rule in love is a relationship guideline to keep connections strong by scheduling regular, dedicated time together: a date night every two weeks, a weekend getaway every two months, and a week-long vacation every two years, helping couples prioritize each other and break daily routines to maintain intimacy and fun.
Emophilia means the tendency to fall in love quickly, easily, and frequently, often described as "emotional promiscuity," where individuals rapidly develop intense romantic feelings, say "I love you" early, and jump into relationships, sometimes overlooking red flags for the exhilarating experience of new love. It's a personality trait linked to chasing excitement and romantic stimulation, differing from attachment anxiety (fear-based) by being a reward-seeking approach. High emophilia can lead to risky behaviors, unhealthy attachments, and difficulty forming stable relationships, according to Psychology Today.
Our exploration of the four major pain points for men — emotional dismissal, breakdown of trust, unfulfilled goals, and relationship struggles or loss — highlights the complexity and depth of men's emotional experiences.
Signs the spark is gone in a relationship often involve a decline in physical intimacy (less sex, touching, kissing), reduced or negative communication (criticism, stonewalling, no deep talks), emotional distance (feeling detached, irritable), and a lack of shared enjoyment or effort (avoiding time together, no dates, less interest in the future). It's a shift from excitement and vulnerability to routine or resentment, where the desire for deep connection and shared passion fades.
When someone feels guilty, they may show signs of defensiveness, submissiveness, or self-protection. They may cross their arms, touch their neck, or cover their mouth. They may also show signs of tension, such as clenching their fists, tapping their feet, or shifting their weight.
Things You Should Know
If the two of you are less physically intimate than you used to be and there's no other explanation, it could be that the relationship is over for him. If you never have fun together or laugh and share jokes anymore, that can be a sign that he's ready to check out of the relationship.
He suddenly starts giving you more attention
A man who senses he's lost you will often try to overcompensate by being unusually attentive. He might start calling or texting more frequently, planning dates, or giving you compliments—things he didn't prioritize before.
The 10 brilliant ways to make a man regret losing you without saying a single word:
survived the dreaded two-year mark (i.e. the most common time period when couples break up), then you're destined to be together forever… right? Unfortunately, the two-year mark isn't the only relationship test to pass, nor do you get to relax before the seven-year itch.
While many factors contribute, many experts point to poor communication (especially criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling) and a breakdown in emotional connection/trust, often stemming from dishonesty or disrespect, as the #1 things that destroy marriages, eroding intimacy and making partners feel unheard and unloved over time. Infidelity, financial stress, and shifting priorities (like putting family/in-laws above spouse) are also major contributors that feed these core issues.
The 777 dating rule is a relationship strategy for intentional connection, suggesting couples schedule a date every 7 days, an overnight getaway every 7 weeks, and a longer vacation every 7 months to keep the spark alive, build memories, and prevent disconnection from daily life. It's about consistent, quality time, not necessarily grand gestures, and focuses on undivided attention to strengthen intimacy and partnership over time.
Your ex staying in touch with you constantly (even after weeks or months of the breakup) is a big sign that they will eventually come back. Probably one of the biggest. It's important to note that this sign only applies if they have been doing it consistently for a while and enough time has passed since the breakup.
1) They have fully accepted the breakup
One of the clearest signs that a breakup is final is when both people have truly accepted that it's over. At first, breakups can be messy, with one or both partners holding onto hope that things might change.
You can tell if a guy is thinking about you if he texts you good morning and good night, he sends you random short messages all day, he asks you a lot of questions about you, he likes and comments on your social media posts, or he messages you when he's hanging out with his friends.
Accepting a relationship is over involves allowing yourself to grieve, processing emotions through talking or journaling, establishing new routines and self-care, connecting with supportive people, and creating distance from your ex (like no contact) to focus on rebuilding your own life and identity outside the relationship. It's about acknowledging the past, grieving the loss, and consciously shifting your focus to your own present and future well-being, understanding that healing takes time and isn't a linear process.
Men remember how a woman made them feel, through humor, support, kindness, and emotional attachment, more so than anything else. Small Details Leave Big Impressions. Small idiosyncrasies, facts stored in his memory, her scent, or the sound of her voice linger in his mind because they feel personal and unique.
A 2024 study from Behavioral and Brain Sciences found that “romantic relationships matter more to men than to women” because men “benefit more” from a partnership. One survey of 1,400 male dumpers found that 76.5% of men regretted dumping their partner within 60 days.