Toxic games in relationships can be frustrating. Just when you think everything is going well, your partner suddenly becomes distant without any explanation, leaving you feeling confused and hurt. If you're in a similar situation, you might find yourself over-analyzing every interaction you've had with your partner, trying to make sense of their sudden change in behavior. To help you understand what might be going on, here are eight possible explanations for why your partner has pulled away despite things appearing to be going well.
1. He wants you to be the one to end it
It's unfortunate, but sometimes guys can plan well in advance to end a relationship while still appearing to be fully invested. They may have already moved on and started seeing someone else, while you are still under the impression that everything is going well because they never expressed any concerns. This could be due to their inability to handle or communicate through issues, resulting in them letting everything build up and hoping that you will take the initiative to officially end things.
2. He has an avoidant attachment style
While your relationship may seem to be going smoothly, it could just be a part of your partner's personality to push people away when things are good. Despite their desire for the relationship to work, they may not even realize that they have this tendency. Being vulnerable and open can be challenging for them, which can make it difficult for them to commit. This internal struggle is not a reflection of your worth, but rather their discomfort with intimacy and closeness.
3. He doesn't want anything serious
Despite enjoying spending time with you and having fun, your partner may not have wanted to commit to a serious relationship from the start. They may not see a long-term future with you, and pulling away is their way of maintaining the relationship's casual nature and avoiding deeper emotional involvement. It's possible that they are not ready or willing to take things to the next level with you.
4. He's anxious
Your partner may be experiencing confusion and self-doubt when things start to get serious in the relationship. They may become anxious and start overthinking how they could potentially mess things up. Despite wanting the relationship to work, they may be new to this level of emotional involvement and want to ensure they do everything perfectly. The relationship is important to them, and they may be striving for perfection to a fault.
5. He's afraid it's too good to be true
Like the previous point, your partner may genuinely like you and be afraid of ruining the relationship. As things get better between you two, they may become increasingly anxious about making a mistake that could jeopardize the relationship. They may be surprised that you're interested in them and have a deep awareness of their flaws, causing them to worry that you will eventually see them for who they truly are and leave them. Past experiences may have left them feeling hurt and afraid of experiencing that pain again. They may need reassurance from you to feel more secure in the relationship.
6. He's manipulating you
In short, your partner may be a complete jerk who uses push-pull tactics to treat you poorly over time and decrease their efforts in the relationship. They may intentionally go cold on you, knowing that you will come back to them and accept less than you deserve just to keep them in your life. They may take advantage of this by expecting more from you each time they come back, further manipulating you into trying harder to win them over. This kind of behavior is toxic and harmful to your well-being, and it will only escalate if allowed to continue.
7. He's just comfortable
Your partner may lose interest in pursuing you after the initial chase is over. They may feel that now that they have you, they can focus on other areas of their life. There may not be anything wrong with your relationship, but your partner could be the type who values their independence or is simply lazy and unable to balance multiple priorities. They may require some encouragement to remain consistent in their efforts, or you may need more attention than they are capable of giving.
8. He's hiding something
Although things may seem to be going well in your relationship, cheaters and players are often unable to maintain their best behavior for an extended period of time. Your partner may want to continue the favorable streak with you, but they could be hiding something they're ashamed of, like losing their job or not being able to keep up with finances. They may feel emasculated and want to be the man in the relationship. Alternatively, it could be something entirely positive, such as planning to propose and remaining silent temporarily as they secretly plan all the details to surprise you. Another possibility is that they have gotten someone else pregnant and don't want you to find out.
