Men pull away due to multiple reasons ranging from fears, insecurities, or anxieties to desperation or loss of love. It is crucial for you to figure out the reason behind his pulling away to protect your relationship. And probably the best way to deal with it is to give him space. Let him figure out his emotions.
Leave him alone when he pulls away
If you believe that your guy is pulling away, give him that space to deal with his emotions. Either he will come back to you with clarity about his feelings or you will be rid of someone who didn't deserve you.
“Space can be from a couple of hours to a couple of days or weeks,” says Ruiz, though he generally doesn't recommend his clients take longer than 3 to 4 weeks. “The timeframe that is being considered should be reasonable for both parties to agree with,” he says.
If someone genuinely needs some space and time away, they may distance themselves from you. However, they would never stop loving, caring, or checking in on you. So if he needs it, give him the space he wants while you continue to show that you care without being too indulgent.
The simple answer to the above questions is yes. When you walk away and make him miss you, it's typical for a man to come back to you. The power of silence after a breakup is highly effective in making your partner come back. To start with, going silent after a breakup is a sign of confidence and self-esteem.
Sometimes it has nothing to do with the relationship or you. He is just stressed – it could be work, or maybe he is having some personal issues with his family, friends or health. Sometimes, pulling away is a form of defense mechanism. His past bad experiences can make him afraid of going through heartache again.
Medium got to the conclusion that “There is no definite time limit, but if a guy likes you, he will usually pull away for no longer than a few days or a week at most”.
Withdrawing from a relationship is a defense mechanism people use in relationships to avoid being hurt, according to a study published in the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy. The instinct for self-preservation is understandable, especially if your partner has had a difficult history with relationships.
Many guys hate failing and feeling inadequate. They often don't have the speed of words to compete with their partner in a conflict. Men's emotional processing capacity is often much slower than their partner. Whilst being silent is a sign of a man's need to process it is also a way to avoid the feelings of defeat.
The person using the silent treatment may abruptly leave the house and stay out, or completely ignore the other partner the rest of the night, knowing this would be upsetting. In some cases, the use of the silent treatment may last for days or weeks.
Give it a few days (or even a week).
Waiting 2–3 days or up to a week before reaching out gives him a chance to text you first once he realizes what he's missing. If you've waited more than a week and still haven't heard back from him, it might be time to move on.
They Want Space
You might notice yourself assuming the worst when someone ignores you. However, this behavior could be a sign that someone is craving time alone or doesn't want to be pressured into discussing something they're not ready to address yet.
It's important to respect his need for space. Don't try to violate it by constantly texting him or finding excuses to pop by his place. Trying to force a man to let you in, when he doesn't feel ready for it, will only make him PULL AWAY MORE.
What does it mean to stonewall someone? In simple terms, stonewalling is when someone completely shuts down in a conversation or is refusing to communicate with another person.
Some guys want to restart their relationship because they're lonely and miss being a part of their ex's group of friends. Sometimes all a guy wants is a little ego boost. He loved how his ex made him feel about himself, and he wants it back. Many men said they missed specific things about their ex.