They have difficulty identifying what they are feeling. It's no wonder men often have difficulty identifying what they are feeling, other than anger. They can become defensive and pull away when emotion is being expressed to them unless they know how to speak the language of emotion.
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.
Of course, people can still pull away even in long-term relationships. For some, “distance is a way to deal with conflict,” Spector says. Your partner might withdraw from you and the relationship after an argument, until you've both cooled off.
Some people can't help but push their partners away because of a fear of intimacy. Sometimes this is because they had a tough upbringing, and find it difficult to connect with people. Others may have been through trauma later on, such as an abusive relationship.
Men could pull away from a relationship due to compatibility issues, lack of space or emotional connect, unrealistic expectations, or difference in opinion. Based on the reason he is pulling away, you may take an action – either talk it out, take a break, or make adjustments.
Pushing people away is one way of avoiding intimacy. In fact, this avoidance can act as a defense mechanism for people afraid of getting hurt in relationships. This could be because a past relationship ended badly, perhaps with rejection or even bereavement.
Men will often come back after pulling away. This is because they've had the time to better understand their situation and their feelings, and now they're ready to pull down their defenses and take the next step.
Three months is probably the most frequent time that I see people breaking up, deciding they don't want to step it up to a more serious stage, which does include agreeing to be in a committed relationship, saying “I love you,” and more of a groove.
In summary, when someone pushes you away, they do not meet your efforts to be close to them. They set up emotional walls around themselves and every moment you spend with them feels like you are struggling to get over their strong defenses.
The “urge to merge” is very common, especially when a relationship is new. But loving too much can make your partner feel suffocated. Your partner is likely to think you are smothering them and the relationship is determined to fail. Read on to know the signs, risks, and learn how to restore balance to a relationship.
He Is Afraid Of Rejection
They could be afraid of facing rejection from another individual. He could fear heartbreak unless you're the first person he's been involved with. If you are currently friends, he may fear losing your connection if you were to break up.