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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Men put me on a pedestal and then emotionally withdraw/disappear

81 replies

LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 13:53

So this is the pattern I've worked out, and it's a pattern that's happened in almost all my relationships:

  1. Meet man, date man, man seems lovely, after a while sleep with man
  2. Man treats me like a princess (not that I like that term)
  3. After sleeping with man/developing relationship with him, he continues to constantly go on about how lovely I am/try to do things for. At some point, man flips from being totally into me to going cold/distant and withdrawing to the point where I break things off, or he does, or he cheats on me.

This doesn't happen immediately after first time sex, which I'd understand a bit more, but after we have developed the beginnings of a relationship.

As far as I know, I am not clingy/needy/scary or doing anything that should put someone off.
So what am I doing wrong?! Can someone help me figure it out.... Really fed up with my dating track record.

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ProfessorPickles · 27/05/2015 13:56

I feel I can relate to this op, the same thing happens to me too. All my ex's say how lovely I am and how they'd get back with me, so I know they like me but I seem to have the same cycle as you do whether it's over 3-4 months or a year or two.

No answers I'm afraid but I suspect for me personally I'm too easily pleased and they get bored? Does that ring a bell to you?

Hopefully someone will have answers!

Preciousbane · 27/05/2015 13:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

midnightvelvet01 · 27/05/2015 13:58

Are you consistently dating men who don't wish to settle down? Have any of them mentioned a long term relationship or children or marriage or anything that makes you think they're a long term prospect?

ProfessorPickles · 27/05/2015 14:01

How old are you too OP roughly?

LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 14:03

Midnight- A couple of months, three/four months sometimes. That's the things, they often drop BIG hints about wanting to settle down/marriage/kids etc, which makes it even more confusing. The guy who broke up with me yesterday spent last weekend taking me to romantic places, brought me a present back from his holiday, talked about marriage/future (not with me, but hinting he was a settling down type). Then this weekend he was a bit colder with me, & yesterday broke up with me with no warning or explanation other than it didn't feel right.

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LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 14:03

I'm mid-twenties, the last few men I've dated have all been late twenties, 28/29.

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LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 14:05

And Professor - yes sometimes I feel that when I start letting a man 'win me over' & start being nice back to them, they go off me. Nothing over the top, just being my usual self - but I think yes perhaps that's too easily pleased/nice for some men..... I don't know.

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thatsn0tmyname · 27/05/2015 14:15

Sounds familiar, especially in the world of internet dating. Some guys love the early days but panic at the three month mark. Are your dates newly single? If you start leaving possessions at their place, cleaning up or hinting at a future together they panic at the thought of another LTR without the chance to play the field.

LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 14:19

Yeah. They've all been from online dating. Maybe that's it.

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goddessofsmallthings · 27/05/2015 14:20

As the saying goes, you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince - and some have to snog zillions of amphibians before any transformation occurs.

I doubt you're doing anything wrong, honey, but could it be that you exudue complacency from the top of the plinth? Do you expect your paramours to worship at your feet, or otherwise dance attendance on you?

Do you return compliments that are paid to you at a later date and do you endeavour to make your lover feel by word, look, and gesture, that he's as important to you as he says you are to him?

LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 14:20

Although not newly single, the latest one had been single for 5 years.

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LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 27/05/2015 14:22

This isn't my advice, Grapefruit, it's something that pops up in my inbox sometimes, seemed prophetic, might be helpful. I've removed the 'sign up to this quick' references.

His Withdrawing Is The Beginning of The End... Unless You Know How To Pull Him Back

You know how it is...

A man will seem really excited to be with you, he'll ask you out, maybe even bring you flowers, call all the time, and then...

... something shifts and he pulls back.

He stops making plans like he used to, and you start to feel like you did something wrong or that he doesn't like you as much anymore.

Wouldn't it be great to know for sure that your man was going to take you in his arms and let you know without a doubt that he wants you and only you?

Wouldn't it be amazing never to have to worry again that he is losing interest when he becomes distant or that you've done something wrong?

It's entirely possible when you understand the reasons a man has for acting distant and what to do about it when he does...

The Good News: Withdrawing Is Natural

How it Feels To Have Him Desperately Crave You?

Catch Him & Keep Him
Imagine attracting a man emotionally and intellectually in a way that makes him unable to resist wanting to be around you. Not only that, but imagine no more excuses. No more "I'm too busy" or "I have to work through some issues." The only thing he'll know is his desire to be with you.

You can literally have a man who wasn't totally "feeling it" for you suddenly take notice and recognize the things inside you he simply didn't see before.

If you finally want to feel secure in a relationship, then you need to check out my Natural & Lasting Attraction online video program. I'll reveal specific ways to subtly communicate the things that will trigger that intense level of attraction inside him:

Here's an insight about men that's fascinating and strange and that, once you understand it, is going to stop a lot of the pain and frustration you experience with dating and relationships.

When a man gets truly close to a woman and deeply intimate for any extended period of time, he loves that feeling and wants more of it. But the strange part of this is that the moment a man experiences this period of intense closeness, he will take some space for himself.

I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but it's how most men work emotionally. Most men will actually seek some amount of space to "recover." It's kind of like how after a muscle gets worked out it needs to rest before it can grow stronger and be active again.

Men can become distant even in good relationships, and if you know what to do, you can keep your guy physically and emotionally engaged... even when he needs time to recover.

And there's another reason why a man might withdraw that has nothing whatsoever to do with you: He's not living his "purpose".

The Importance Of Purpose For A Man

It's important for a man to be clear about what he's doing in his own life and what his purpose is.

A man's purpose can be anything from something straightforward like excelling at work or building his own company, to something more creative like starting and working at a do-it-yourself project at home or training at his favorite sport.

The point is that a man has some goals and is engaged and focused on doing something and doing it well.

A man's purpose is essential to his overall emotional and social well-being. But often times, even men themselves aren't clear on what their purpose is, or don't really go after their purpose and assert themselves.

How His Purpose (Or Lack Of) Can Affect You

When a man isn't going after his own purpose, or has fallen away from it or forgotten about it, it often gets in the way of the relationship he's in. Men become withdrawn, restless, irritated and seem generally unengaged in life as a whole.

They stop initiating plans. They stop spending as much time with people, even their own friends. They shut the world out. And of course, they become emotionally withdrawn and distant as well.

Too often men aren't conscious that this is what's happening to them, and they end up pulling away from their relationship and making things even worse for themselves. This is when they often seem to go in and out of being present and engaged in the relationship, and then completely withdrawn.

They slide between the two largely because of the way that they're feeling about themselves or how things are going for them in the world as it relates to their purpose. And often women take on the problems the man is going through and try and help, or even mistake his behavior to mean something about his feelings about them or the relationship.

So, now that you know that a man's withdrawing is not automatically your fault, what can you do about it?

What Doesn't Work With A Man

There are certain behaviors and approaches women often take when their man starts withdrawing, and they usually work against you. Let's get those out of the way so you know what NOT to do...

Approach #1: Convincing Him

When you're with a man who is feeling or acting uncertain with you, trying to convince him otherwise puts you in a very dangerous and weak position for your relationship, even if you give him an ultimatum that would move things ahead to the place in your relationship that you want.

Why? Because he's not really making that decision based on what he wants or feels.

What you really want and need is a man who is truly committed to being with you on a physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual level. Not coerced, not forced, not convinced.

Approach #2: Over Sharing Your Feelings

If you're like most women, then you think sharing your feelings with a man first, and often, will somehow get him to share his feelings in return.

But this isn't how it works for a man. You can share your feelings with a man, but to expect that this will encourage him to do the same with you will only lead you to unnecessary frustration, especially if a man is already acting withdrawn.

When a man acts withdrawn, that's a signal that he is undergoing his own emotional process and needs time to recharge. Once he's ready to share his feelings, he'll be back. But trying to stimulate him to do so by becoming overly emotional won't work.

Approach #3: Setting Unrealistic Expectations

Women tend to think that if things are going well with a guy, that he will naturally want to move things forward to the next level. They'll just assume this even when the guy has never talked about the future.

So you know what happens next. Things will be coasting along, and suddenly the guy will change gears, she'll find out he's dating other women, or he doesn't make plans with her every weekend, and she's left wondering what the heck happened.

The answer is that the woman created all these expectations about what the relationship was supposed to look like and how he was supposed to behave, and when he fell short of that, she became disappointed and unfulfilled. This usually winds up in a confrontation that causes tension and maybe even creates more distance.

The flip side of this is that a woman will try to pretend she's okay with just a casual relationship, gets closer to him thinking he'll "come around," and then become disappointed when he doesn't.

Approach #4: Having "The Talk"

As an independent, thinking woman who is used to getting out there and getting what she wants in her career and the rest of her life, it might seem like laying your cards on the table and having a talk with a man about "where the relationship is going" is the sensible, adult way to move things forward.

You might think that if you give him all your reasons for why you two are perfect for each other, like you'd do in a job interview, it will make him open his eyes and realize he'd be a fool to have things any other way.

But think about this: Do men truly commit and choose to love and become loyal, caring, affectionate, etc. just because a woman asks them?

No. A man needs to have his own reasons for being and feeling this way, and this happens when he feels a deep emotional attraction for you.

Try From Casual To Committed

In this program, I'll help you discover how to help a man get in touch with those hidden feelings inside him that will have him begging you for a commitment. No drama, no tears, and no convincing that he needs to "go there" with you.

How To Make Him Hot Again

Ok, so now that you know what not to do when a man goes cold, here's how to handle the situation the next time it happens and inspire the right guy to "recover."

  1. Center Yourself And Get Clear On Your Wants

What you need to do first, before you do anything else, is get clear about what you want and expect from your love life.

You need to be honest with yourself first before you can be honest with anyone else in your life. Stop pretending you only want a casual, fun fling when what you really want is to have a committed, serious relationship that's going somewhere.

Here's the thing: Getting clear about what you want will help guide your mind in all kinds of positive directions to help you find and attract the right situations and people in your life.

Accepting a situation that is anything other than what you truly want will not only make you unhappy, it will keep you tied to a man who's not right for you. So really ask yourself what kind of relationship you want before you become involved with a man and the chemistry starts to cloud your vision.

  1. Communicate Clearly

Let me tell you something important that you might have gotten mixed up as a woman in relationships with men who wouldn't listen...

It's OK to want what you want and to let a man know it. In fact, it's a must. And it's OK to tell a man that his behavior doesn't match with what you want.

The amazing thing is that men crave honest women who are up front about who they are and what they want in relationships... in a way that says that she's not too attached to the immediate outcome and subtly lets him know that he better have his act together, or else.

Suppose you're with a man who has a wandering eye or wants an "open relationship", and that's not what you want. You can say, "You have every right to be with any woman you want, just not when you're with me."

That's not an ultimatum or a threat. It's a simple, clear statement about your wishes that also respects his right to choose. When faced with open communication like that, a mature man will respect a woman and realize that he's dealing with an equal.

This in itself will go far in triggering the deep level of emotional attraction I talked about earlier. What's more, once you become vulnerable like this and state your truth, your respect for yourself will also increase, and with it your self esteem. You'll not only move closer to the relationship you want, but you'll weed out the guys who can't give you that in the process.

  1. Create The Space

This is the critical key to inspiring a man to be close to you again. Actually allow yourself to be open and vulnerable.

This is the space that you will actually receive love from your man... and to do this requires that you actually take a step back so that a man can come towards you and start giving you his love and attention.

If you don't leave this space, you will keep filling the space, and he will not step forward.

That means you let go of the need to control what happens next and give him the chance to call, make plans with you, or initiate affection.

Learn The Exact Steps So He'll Step Forward

In my program Inside The Mind of A Man, I dedicate a whole section to this called "When a Man Withdraws." You'll quickly learn:
•How to cut through his resistance so he actually wants to come closer to you, naturally
•Specific words you can say if you sense he's pulling away so he suddenly craves you MORE
•The stuff men will NEVER tell you about what they're thinking while dating you
•How to talk to him so you DON'T come across as needy

One of my guest speakers, an expert in communicating with men, recommends "fooling" a man into thinking it's actually okay for him to withdraw. In fact, he advises that you actually encourage a man to take his space to regenerate by saying, "I'm here when you're ready."

When you back off like this, a man will firstly be caught off guard and pleasantly surprised, he probably hasn't had this happen with a woman before. Once he gets over this, he'll realize that he actually needs less time away from you, because you're not going to hold it against him.

To learn more tips like this you can use right away with any man you're with to instantly bring him closer to you and inspire that deep level of emotional attraction, check out Inside The Mind Of A Man here:

Watch Inside The Mind Of A Man

I'll guide you to understand men and work with how a man thinks and feels to create a great relationship... a relationship that will withstand the normal ups and downs.

You'll learn to recognize when a man is just "doing his thing", so you never again have to worry that you're driving him away. Instead, you'll learn exactly what it takes to support your man during his periods of "recovery" and what to do to keep his attraction for you strong.

=========================================

This is Christian Carter stuff in case you want to look it up. I don't know how good/informed he is but he seems to have a bug up his bottom about this so, what do I know?

Best to you, OP. It's not you, it IS them. Flowers

LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 14:23

Thanks goddess. Yeah I don't want to give the wrong impression by saying men put me on a pedestal - I definitely don't think I'm amazing or deserve to be on a pedestal but that is what seems to happen towards the start of the relationship. And I am a very affectionate person and always compliment guys as I get to know them and form a relationship- in the first month, I'm probably more reserved, but once I've started sleeping with someone I can barely stop myself from complimenting them.... Could this be part of the problem?

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LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 14:24

Thanks very much Lying I will read that now.

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ProfessorPickles · 27/05/2015 14:25

LePample - it's awful isn't it. I just got out of a relationship after 4 months with a truly lovely man. He asked me on the first date, he asked me on the second date, he asked me to be his girlfriend and after a while he told me he loved me, so as you can see he did all the chasing. I wasn't massively keen at first but thought he was lovely and kind and I did fancy him, but then as soon as I started to have more serious feelings for him he suddenly started cancelling our plans and eventually I ended it because he wasn't seeing me often enough! It was barely at all.

I can understand it when they're just after sex etc but he was so loving and kind and a very nice man who definitely wasn't after sex, I suppose it's the thrill of the chase! Hmm

LurcioAgain · 27/05/2015 14:26

I got exhausted about 3 paragraphs in, Lyin!

Alternatively, you could take the view that if you have to invest that much emotional energy in psychoanalysing his mental state and level of commitment, he isn't a keeper. And that if you have to do that much game playing to make it work... well, there's a very fundamental level on which it isn't working and won't ever work.

On the other hand, there may be a reason why I'm long term single Grin.

LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 14:30

Sounds like a very similar situation to mine Professor. Perhaps it is just the thrill of the chase like you say and once they've 'got' you they lose interest. The thing is I'm a very warm, kind person and I don't want to have to hide that side of myself and "play it cool" to keep men interested, although I think that would have worked with this last guy.

Maybe I should stop online dating but it's very hard to meet men in my job.

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LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 14:31

And I really like your thinking Lurico.

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ProfessorPickles · 27/05/2015 14:33

I read some of the big post about the way a man works but I find it a little bit insulting to read (no offence poster!), I can't be arsed having to do a degree in psychology to keep a man, I don't see why it should be so difficult and hard work when I'm an honest, open and easy going person that doesn't mess people about and play games. Surely there must be some men out there that don't require an idiots guide?! I live in hope Grin

goddessofsmallthings · 27/05/2015 14:36

Aw shucks, I missed all of the earlier responses while I was composing mine Smile

If you're sourcing frogs from online dating it's probable they don't deregister from whatever site brought about your union and are continuing to browse the gene pool for fear they may be missing out on other potential mates.

LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 14:37

Yes that's a very good point.

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EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 27/05/2015 14:43

I didn't read that long 'men are like this and that' post because I suspect it's bollocks.
I suspect you are attracting avoidant men who enjoy the idea of romance but can't cope with the reality. Op how are you in relationships? Do you crave intimacy or do you desire independence? Do you feel that partners are too good for you or not good enough?
I realised that I myself am avoidant and so I choose avoidant partners so that I don't feel pressurised to give intricacy that I can't cope with. It makes for pretty disastrous relationships!
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_in_adults

Offred · 27/05/2015 14:48

Simple. You are dating the wrong men. It happens. Keep looking and beware men who are a bit overkill at the start.

LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 14:49

Ehric, I think I crave intimacy. Although I try to hide that. But I love emotional and physical intimacy. On the other hand I absolutely think I attract men who avoid intimacy, all very confusing.. I don't think partners are either too good for me or not good enough, but I do tend to 'obsess' about new boyfriends somewhat- think reading everything they've posted on Facebook for the last few years etc, although of course I'd never tell them that. I'll read the Wikipedia article.

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LePamplemousse · 27/05/2015 14:50

Thanks Offred.

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