Why Guys Come Back After You Ignore Them- Why They Come Running Back?

70 thoughts on “Why Guys Come Back When You Ignore Them”

Linda carpanzano

April 17, 2020 at 6:54 pm

Hi there so basically I dated a guy 13 years ago. We broke up and he was with someone for the past 13 years but always kept in touch. When she dumped him he was devastated and I thought I was a rebound but I thought because we always kept in touch that maybe it was meant to be? We lost it a year-and-a-half and broke up this December. Basically for that same reason that I didn’t think he was ready. I did no contact for about a month and slowly started answering when he was contacting me. He was showing up at my house, delivering food, bringing me coffees and calling me daily on video. We got intimate a few times last week. Somebody told me he was on Tinder and the other day this girl called his phone like 5 times in a row. To me that does not seem like a friend. He said it was just a friend and that they never fooled around. I was grossed out because we were intimate and I don’t think she is just a friend if she is running down his phone when he ignores the calls. Basically my point was that the amount of effort he was putting in, I thought nobody else was in the picture or maybe he was having a change of heart. I had to leave because he had to pick up his mother. The next morning he said good morning and I ignored it. Then he messaged me saying if I was going to talk to him but I ignored it. Then he sent me some funny Tik Tok video and I ignored it. I wasn’t trying to be rude I just was so annoyed and not ready to communicate or have something turn into an argument again. Did I do the right thing? Can no contact work now? Or is it just a slap in the face after an argument to not respond? I’m 38th and he is 39 by the way

EBR Team Member: Shaunna

April 21, 2020 at 11:50 pm

Hi Linda, I would say that you did the right thing to get some space while you are mad but you are not in a relationship so he is able to be on these dating sites etc, IF you want to be exclusive you need to have that conversation where you explain where you both sit and tell each other what you want going forward. If he tells you he wants friends with benefits then you have to accept that he is going to be on tinder etc. If you want a relationship with this guy you need to stop being intimate until you are offical

Chelsea

April 7, 2020 at 3:10 am

Hi Chris

My ex and I were together for over a year. He’s 29 I’m 27 but I was his longest relationship, the first person he brought to meet his family, I even spent Christmas there, his friends and family told me they never met or even heard of any of his girlfriends before. We also didn’t fight much. Although he never told me he loved me, so one day I was tipsy in a bar alone with him and just came out and asked him if he loved me.. He responded a cold hard no, I was devastated, I ran out the bar crying. He is a dismissive avoidant so uncomfortable + emotional conversations and him don’t mix. He never reached out, so about a week later I did, asking whats going on. He told me he went to his parents to self-isolate (a small town) And he said that he enjoyed our time together, that he really likes me and he’s sorry that he was never able to develop those feelings, and how he was shocked when they didn’t, that I can pick my things up when he’s back. I know he’s on dating apps, and he hasn’t initiated conversation since. So I sent him a message yesterday of a video stating I think he would like it. It was a mutual light hearted video we both shared a common interest in the topic ( lord of the rings). He responded a day later with “haha thats funny.” I felt it wasn’t really enough substance to respond to, I’m glad he did because I do want him back but I think it was best to ignore it? And maybe go NC for a while? Hoping that maybe he will initiate conversation eventually. Do you think this approach is effective? Or should I just let go.

EBR Team Member: Shaunna

April 10, 2020 at 12:03 pm

Hi Chelsea so to follow this process you need to start with a NC of 30 days, work your Holy Trinity and then start your texting phase (day 31) where you have short positive conversations with your ex, that you end first. While the text about LOTR was good and he responded positively, it is important that you complete a NC first and then reach out with something that is going to get him talking to you.

Blair

February 11, 2020 at 7:32 pm

Hi Chris,

I met this guy last year and basically we were close for a whole year, throughout that year he would occasionally state that he didn’t want a relationship so we kept it as friends but he would always make it seem like more than what it was since the beginning I cannot lie, I was treating everything like a relationship ,well since last month I’ve noticed that he’s been messing with his ex. She’s cheated on him and broke up with him plenty of times. Anyway I’ve decided to back away and distance myself without ever stating that I was, I could tell he notices it but isn’t saying anything. I’m trying the no contact the best I know how but sometimes feel like I’m about to give in to texting him. What should I do? Help please

EBR Team Member: Shaunna

February 12, 2020 at 9:49 pm

Hi Blair, if you want your guy to invest in you then backing off is the best option. But if he is fooling around with his ex again I would NC him until that is over with again and work on becoming Ungettable so that you look like the better option when she starts to go back to her old ways.

Sharon Walker

January 13, 2020 at 1:15 am

Will this work on a guy you wore or are talking to. Even if you pushed them away, and they said they lost a little interested

EBR Team Member: Shaunna

January 13, 2020 at 10:59 pm

Hey Sharon, if you follow this process focusing on what it takes to become Ungettable then, yes there is a chance you can re-attract the guy you were talking to, but you need to take some time in No Contact!

EBR Team Member: Shaunna

December 22, 2019 at 5:54 pm

Hi Michaela, so it sounds like you need to do a bit more work on yourself as you made it clear you were still interested in him and making a lot of effort to see him too soon, you need to build up your connection gradually as to not scare him into thinking you are trying to get him back, we know thats what you are doing, but it will just make him run for the hills. Start the process again with no contact and read as much as you can on this website making sure you understand what it is you need to eb doing at each stage
Kristi

September 15, 2019 at 9:22 pm

What you say is true! One guy stated repeatedly he wanted a life with me and then when I finally started to say I’d accept his proposal he became an ass…
Mad

August 16, 2019 at 5:20 pm

This is an add on from my last post. I forgot to say that he said things like “I’m yours for life” and “there are no comparisons, and you’re the companion of my life”.
Kitty

August 6, 2019 at 11:51 am

Hi Chris,
Recently I had been back in contact with an ex I had dated a few years ago. We were meeting up – on casual terms and I kind of got the idea he was just after fun but had said a few things that confused me. The other night we spent the night together and slept with each other a lot, he fell asleep and I couldn’t sleep with the thought of how much I wanted to cuddle up to him and if I was being used. When he woke up that morning, me being an idiot, hit him with stupid questions of ‘what’s going on with us?’ And ‘I hope he isn’t using me’ all that rubbish. He didn’t really respond well but we didn’t argue, I later dropped him home and then later that day I sent him a text, he ignored this. I later found that he was just ignoring me completely, then he finally text back explaining that he just wanted fun and he couldn’t be bothered with people being argumentative with him ( I guess relating to what I’d brought up that morning) I apologised and agreed that I wasn’t sure I wanted more either, he said it was ok and then I asked if he still wanted to meet – silence again. I feel like I’ve been such an idiot asking him so soon and In a stupid way! Have a completely messed all chances up with him now, even to just be a fwb because I was enjoying it to a degree. What can I do to get him interested in me again?
Please help!
Nicole

July 29, 2019 at 10:49 pm

Hi Chris,

I have visited your pages probably too much. So, here it goes. 1st off, coworkers, now long distance, 4 year mutual crush, becomes bf/gf. Never had any intimacy, but a few close calls when we worked together. My thing is things went to sexting too fast and I got cold feet. Then he tried to make me jealous, which backfired, because I lost my cool. And he blocked me for 3 months.

We try again, but now he’s reserved, but says he’s in love and he knows I’m his ‘one’. We decide to take things slower, but he’s being very guarded now, and so I lost my patience with him and his suddenly slower responses, like the excitement is gone. So, I cut back on my lovey dovey stuff, because I feel like it’s one sided. We then decide we are forcing it, and the distance is making us crazy.

I go NC, just to see if he’ll reach out to me. He finally reaches out to me a few days past a month. By this time, I’m pretty much feeling worthless and heart broken. He tells me still cares about me, but he’s tired of the emotional rollercoaster. I pour my heart out to him, and he basically says, ‘Wow, that’s a lot. I don’t have a response to that.” I replied I stopped expecting anything from him. He said I probably shouldn’t. So, I decide to tell him that I think we are hitting a point of no return, and I’d rather just part than things become ugly. Every time I go through this with him, I feel a little more broken and insecure about myself.

Well, I know he stalks my FB bc as soon as I post something, he logs on. Recently, I went out with some friends and posted pictures. One is a guy, and he commented he had a blast with me. My ex/bf blocks me on FB. One part says to stop caring, but I can’t because I’ve felt a connection with this guy from the moment we stood face to face. No man has ever said the things he’s said to me, or sang to me over the phone! And through all of this he’s maintained being in love with me. Is there any hope?

I feel like I’ve lost a piece of myself in all of this, and I hate not hearing his laughter on the other end of the phone. But, he never gets out of his comfort zone and actually chases me or makes me feel wanted anymore.
S Hay

July 5, 2019 at 7:31 am

Hi Chris,

Since February I’ve been working with this guy. He’s very quiet and reserved but we use to chat in the staff room and got on well. We also matched on tinder, which we joked about on the app. Following this we were invited to a mutual friends birthday night out, we got on really well and have the same sense of humour. We just laughed most of the evening (no kissing, no sex fyi).

He added me on Facebook and at work we would make more conversation. I noticed he only really spoke to me from my department. I started to like him more. The staff party comes and again we spend the whole night together laughing and having a good time. Another guy from work actually tells him he’s got a huge crush on me and that he thinks im really beautiful etc… Nicki (my crush), I could tell was a little bit jealous and said I should tell this guy I’m not interested. I could tell it came from a place of jeaously.

We walk home and he has work at 6 am so he asks to stay at mine. Again, he stays around but nothing happened. No kissing, no sex. He was respectful and didn’t try. I also made it clear I would rather nothing happened (despite how drunk I was). At work we still joke around and chat like normal but feel he is making even more effort with me. He also followed me on Instagram (and follows no one else from work).

Anyways, we work together for a few more weeks and my last day at work arrives (I handed my notice in a few months prior). He said on my last day he was exhausted from going for drinks the past 2 nights, but come 5pm he comes by the water for drinks with us. As everyone leaves, he stays out with me and my friend. We have a really nice night, laughing and sharing stories. My friend leaves and we start walking home. He said he felt hungry and so did i so we stop for food. Whilst we are eating he said hes thinking of going back to school and he has been stressing about it a lot. He’s 29 and scared to start again but his mum and sister are pressuring him. I give listen and offer some support. I was sort of touched he was so open about his anxiety about it.

He then suggests we watch a film. I was a little sceptical, as I’m aware men try and edge a film to get sex. I agree and he comes upstairs to mine to watch a film. Again, nothing happened, although I did initiate a kiss before we went to sleep. Nothing else happened and he was very respectful.

Come the next morning when he has to work at 6am. I lay in bed and he sat down and stroked my hair and said ‘see you…soon hopefully.’ he then gets up to leave and says ‘we should go for a beer or 2 soon’. He looks at me and I’m so tired and disoriented but say yes.

Later on that day I message just to check in with how work is and we send a few longer messages just joking about the night before etc.

Okay, so that was on Monday/ some on tuesday. It is now Friday morning and I haven’t heard anything from him…

This is the most shocked I’ve been about a guy ghosting me. We had such a lovely time together and we use to laugh so much. It’s really knocked me. I will not message him as I felt like I made the effort the day he left mine. He must know I like him. What do you think is going on? I’m stumped.

Hope this message made sense. I sort of rushed it…
Rita

June 21, 2019 at 10:32 pm

Hi Chris,
thanks for your dating tips.
however, you usually talk about playing hard to get. But why is it so hard to play hard to get? And how can we do it effectively?
Peculiar

June 8, 2019 at 1:58 pm

Hi my name is Peculiar from Nigeria, and I just got played basically, it hurts, because I felt the guy and I had a connection of some sort, a friendship not just about the sex, we met three months ago and while he was away we spoke everyday for three weeks, when he got back we saw and had a great evening, told me he had a girlfriend while he was away on his trip who he feels slept with his friend, and repeated it to me again that last evening (unknown to me) , but he still totally loves her, that he likes me so much, that in fact he loves me but he puts a stop to any form of emotions because of how much he loves her and moreover nothing serious can go on between us because of my tribe, but I’m his best friend, he kisses me on my forehead a lot, and I won’t lie I felt even though he loves his girlfriend, he probably likes me and I’m not like some random girl he has sexually conquered and well we sort of agreed to be friends, told me he would come see me the next day, well the next day arrived and I found out he had blocked me, o called him with a friends phone and he confirmed it, since then which is 5 days ago I haven’t, reached out and I’m still blocked everywhere we ever made contact. Well my reason for texting is because I’d really want closure, I’d like to understand if there was a possibility all wasn’t a lie, I mean if he came for sex he got it months ago, why stick around or maintain connection when he was away, I’d like to know if there is a chance he might reach out soon, I’m not looking to date him, I just feel like I’ve lost a friend.
Jean

June 5, 2019 at 12:50 pm

My ex of 14yrs just ghosts me every time I raise an issue. He has left and come back so many times that I have forgotten. I have now gone 9 days with NC and believe I need time out. He never shows his feelings and now he withholds affection, I have tried so hard to make this work and now I just feel like I need to do something different. By the way he is 66 and I am 59, I just want a nice quiet life.

Chris Seiter

June 5, 2019 at 9:53 pm

Hi Jean….so I think NC is the right medicine for this situation. He is so wrong for ghosting you just because he gets sideways with an issue.

Unknown

May 28, 2019 at 10:48 pm

I’ve been ignoring my ex for a week now and when he texts me I give him close ended responses at my own sweet time to prevent any further texting.We had a fight and he also hasn’t been showing me that he values me… I’ve been feeling uncomfortable and disrespected in various ways. I have spoken to him countless times about this however nothing seems to change… I love him but will not go back to him before he actually gets that he has to respect me as his girlfriend. Thing is what do I do next? Look hot when the times comes for us to meet up and talk again? What do I say? How do I change how he treats me when he is too comfortable? Do I call it quits?am I doing something wrong? How do I fix things to work in my favor?

Chris Seiter

May 29, 2019 at 2:39 am

It looks like you would benefit by taking a deeper dive into my Program that lays out a sensible strategy. If you are feeling disrespected, then you should consider taking time and space or implementing no contact. I discuss all of this and much more in my Program (EBR PRO Bundle).

Katy

May 6, 2019 at 11:06 am

I became very close to my boss(GP)who kissed me on the head a few times when I told him I was leaving. He’s begged me to stay.
He said he always has my back and will always care for me.
He has always been there for me.
My husband was cheating on me.
I’ve hit a tough time with my eyesight and now he seems distant and doesn’t answer my emails.
Has he fallen out of love with me.
Dani Dobson

May 6, 2019 at 2:13 am

So I was dating a guy and we got close very fast moved in together and then he started lying and would be spending time with other women. He said he was scared and he didn’t want to be with one person. He said every day that he cares for me and he would do nice things to help me but would always have a wandering eye when we would go out. Finally I asked him to be completely honest with me about his feelings and he said he loves me and regrets his choices and wants to be with me. Then a few hours later said he moved into a lease and can’t get out of it and can’t be with me. I blocked him after that because he has been doing the hot cold thing for over a year now and I can’t keep waiting for him. I went farther then no contact because he always manipulated me with his words and I know he would talk me into staying around while he went with other women convincing me he didn’t love them he just needed variety and loved me. He was the most confusing man I ever met. Should I unblock him to see where it leads or remain blocking him?
Madalyn Febian

May 5, 2019 at 9:39 pm

Hello! My story will be long but my long-term boyfriend now ex broke it off almost 4 months ago now. We were together for two years and I was his first girlfriend. He’s not in a relationship right now and we’re also not on speaking terms. We did end it on good terms, I just don’t know why he’s avoiding me. We’re seniors in high school and we’re off to different colleges soon but ever since senior year started he was distant. He chose his gaming and friends over me and he did tell me that i’m not as important as I was once. We broke up once last year but he reconsidered his decision cause I convinced him to change his mind by saying how i’m not taking his freedom away. But a month after, he became his old distant self again. Before he was so clingy and all that but became distant when school started. I asked his close best friend for help and he said he was dealing with some personal problems but to make sure hes not giving me a false statement he would ask him. He did and got back to me the next day and he said he’s losing feelings because he wants to prepare himself for college. After a week I asked his friend, we broke up. He initiated it and he said it’s because we barely talk as talk but I was always there checking up on him and making plans. And he said that i’m unhappy in the relationship and I told i’m not and he said it’s obvious but i’m unhappy. That he doesn’t want the extra responsibility of being in a relationship, that he still likes me but just doesn’t want to add that responsibility. He suggested we can always text as friends not as a couple. Before he left he said I Love You and kissed my cheek. That was the very last time I spoke to him. A few weeks after, he deleted our picture on instagram but since I have access to it and he doesn’t know because I guess he forgot, I saw that he archived it. After a week of that, he decided to follow the girl he knew I don’t like because she flirted with him last year and he unfollowed her summer of 2018 because I told him so. Then, one of his friends texted me and said he was talking bad about me, called me obsessive and that the relationship got irritating. So I decided to unfollow him on all social media’s. After that, I would sometimes log back in his account for fun and I would see my name pop out on his search history from time to time. But he said those mean things about me 3 weeks after we broke up. Whenever he’s around me at school, he acts normal and happy but sometimes when he’s alone walking to class, he rushes his way to get to class when I’m around. I just don’t know why he’s still avoiding me when we ended on good terms. And his mom and his close best friend is still chill with me. Does he still have feelings?
Maria Joshua

April 26, 2019 at 2:24 pm

So my ex texted me “I’m glad that you’re happy! I lost”!! That was the next morning after seeing me a night before in a pub, dancing & smiling! And of course he called after, but I didn’t pick up!! I wonder what he meant by “I lost”? And whether his message is a good sign or not!

Chris Seiter

April 26, 2019 at 5:02 pm

Looks like some jealousy and regret feelings creeping into your ex. Good sign.

Jennifer L.

February 17, 2019 at 10:30 pm

Hi Chris,
This is a long one.

I (30-35) was in a long distance relationship with a guy (40-45) that began with online contact 6 months ago, then 4 months of video chat, phone calls, all great stuff. We even had favorite shows that we would watch and spend hours talking about on video chat. We met in person and it was fantastic. He visited me, then I visited him, then 4 months in he asked me to be in a relationship with him, because he wanted to be with me and no one else. I was ecstatic and said yes, then we spent the holidays together, he asked to meet my friends which he did, and then he took the lead on going away together and we planned a long weekend. Things seemed great, there weren’t any fights or anything beyond 1 or 2 little spats. Now two months into the official relationship, the week before I was to fly down and see him, which was also the week before our long weekend, he began to act weird. I knew he was very busy at work, and I did tell him I felt like he didn’t have time for me and hoped we could still talk on the phone even for a few minutes before bed just for checkin. He seemed ok with it, but I detected distance. Texts were still sweet but somehow just not the man I was used to. So I flew down to see him as previously planned a few weeks before, very worried that something was up. He was distant, cold, not holding my hand, just very unengaged. I asked if everything was ok and he said yes, but you could tell something was up. We slept together before bed, and the next day made plans for the weekend but he was just cold and disinterested even when planning the stuff. Eventually I got upset and flat out asked: did I do something to upset you? And he seemed very warm and attentive and said I didn’t do/say anything wrong but that something hasn’t seemed right in the last week or so, and that he felt unsettled, and he couldn’t explain why, not even to himself. So I got upset and asked if he was breaking up with me. He just stared and at first said no, but then it was obvious he was. I asked if there was another woman or his ex – no. I asked if it was about the small spat (about me wanting him to hold my hand at a party since he usually wants to hold hands 24/7!) we had a few weeks ago- no. I asked if it was a personality fit- (my memory is fuzzy bc I was so upset) but he wavered and said something like “maybe I would veer towards that, long term.” I said, what does that mean? You don’t want to be with me and you can’t explain why? And he said “I can’t even explain it to myself.” And i said, “one of the things you told me you were working on when we started this relationship was speaking up more when something bothers you. (He sees a therapist.) Why didn’t you say something last week? You just booked our trip a week ago! And we slept together last night so you used me!” He kept saying no, he felt good booking the trip but since then he doesn’t know, he wasn’t sure of his feelings, something was “unsettling,” whatever. I packed up and told him that though there were no flights back to where I lived that night, I wasn’t staying there at his place. He offered me to stay while he went somewhere else because he claimed to care about me being in a city where I knew no one. I was like “no I’m good, you don’t wanna be with me and I don’t understand why, I’m not begging you to stay with me and I’ll move on and find someone else.” He was upset and through sad voice said “oh I know you will.” (That was so painful to hear him say.) and I ordered my ride and left. He never called or texted to see where I went or if I got back to my city safely. Chris I am baffled. When I tell you this man charmed the hell out of me for 6 months and did everything a marriage minded man would do to lay the path, I was shocked that this happened. He said he meant everything he said and did during the relationship. So why go through months of communication and closeness, fly up to see me, meet my friends, spend the holidays with me, tell me how beautiful I was and how much he loved my qualities, and how happy he was to be with me, and tell his friends and family about us and show them pictures, but then do this? Why, just because of me wanting to talk on the phone more regularly? Or because I vented to him about some girl at a party I didn’t wanna see? Many say this has nothing to do with me, but if it didn’t, wouldn’t he have told me? And asked to work it out? Instead he was sad and held his head in his hands, and told me how sorrry he was and that he f-ed this up and didn’t handle it properly. and what an amazing woman I am, and that I did nothing wrong, and I was a great girlfriend to him. When I left, I asked if there was anything left he wanted to say before I never spoke to him again. He just kept saying he was sorry for how he handled it. I feel like I left without a clear answer on WHY he was doing this. I threw a little shade on my way out, told him I knew some stuff about him that I never brought up but that now that he did this, it all made sense. Didn’t reveal what it was. But I was just angry and being petty. (Shrug) he kept saying he cared about me and was sorry. It’s messed up that he had me fly down to see him and we slept together, when he KNEW this was on his mind. What happened? What did I do?

We are on day 8 of no contact and I haven’t been this devastated in many years. I’m wrong for caring, given his cowardice and selfishness in handling this, but do you think he’ll ever reach out again to apologize and explain? Do you think he ever cared for me and still thinks of me? Or felt guilt for how he did this? Clearly if he ended the relationship, something about ME was there that made him NOT want to be with me. It’s especially devastating because I had NO idea anything was coming and he had JUST booked the trip one week prior and said that he felt good about us when he booked it. I am convinced I did something here, and that maybe it had been happening for longer than just 1 week and he just didnt say anything. So many common interests and good times together, we cooked and baked, we talked about so much, had SUCH a good time together. I just don’t know what this is. Bizarre as hell. I was about to hit SEND on an email to him but I came across your page.

Chris Seiter

February 17, 2019 at 10:57 pm

Hi Jennifer….well, I am glad you came across my website. I think you should proceed with NC as it can do so much for you. I encourage you to pick up my Program if you haven’t as there is so much “me” in the at 485 page flagship product than you can get from me here due to time limitations.

Witnee Peter

December 10, 2018 at 4:58 am

Thank you for the lesson. I mean I always wondered why I kept attracting lots of men to me and ended up rejecting them in the end after I found out their feelings for me.
I’m one of those girls who are so aloof with guys and, being where I’m(an African community where a man attention is worshipped and sought after!) I was the weird one. people always wondered why I @got all the attention while they got to work for it. Turns out, their presence was a sure thing while I, get to play hard.
sometimes I could become very interested (without being obvious, of course) in someone, allow them to get closer, but once they confess their feelings for me; it’s killer! No longer interested in them. It was kinda confusing but now everything is clear, thanks to you.

This means I have never been in love with anyone and now I don’t believe of it’s existence any more!
How will I know it’s love at last?

Chris Seiter

December 10, 2018 at 11:36 pm

Hi Witnee!

Oh….love is out there. You just need to connect with the right person on many levels. No one guy is going to be perfect for you or anyone else. No such thing exists. But there are better unions than others. So in time, life will reward you and you will find a suitable match.

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70 thoughts on “Why Guys Come Back When You Ignore Them”