12 Subtle Behaviors of Women Who Are Considering Ending Their Relationships

a while “Overcrowding” research from the European Journal of Population He suggests that there are numerous reasons for an inevitable separation, from closeness in a shared home to financial incompatibility; The real confusion around breakups comes from the gray area right before you actually end things. Who makes the first move? How do you express your feelings without hurting your partner’s? Is it possible to step back and make things easier for everyone?

For female partners, there are some subtle behaviors of women who are considering leaving their relationships, and while they may be difficult to recognize, they’re incredibly meaningful once you get to know them.

Here are 12 subtle behaviors of women who are considering leaving their relationships.

1. Stops complaining or asking questions

Couple arguing on the couch Ready Oven | Shutterstock

This subtle trait is often most common in relationships that end. One or both partners are controlled, subconsciously separated from the other, and casual communication, curiosity and even complaints arise. dulled by constant silence and small talk.

Typically, partners who are unhappy in a relationship, especially a long-term or committed relationship, express their feelings and discontent long before they are ready to actually end things. The real question is: Were their partners listening?

At this stage, when the woman is truly considering leaving, she stops probing, asking questions, or complaining about her relational struggles. They have reached the point of feeling unheard, which is a promise of communication that underpins healthy relationships. According to 2023 researchwhere they no longer care about begging for attention or care.

2. He no longer tells you about his life, plans, or goals

Woman looking sad while talking on the phone ViDI Studio | Shutterstock

It may seem that simple, but for many partners who are stressed by work or family, this can easily be overlooked. If a woman doesn’t tell you about her life, she probably doesn’t care.

We share the things we are excited about with the people we love; It’s just human nature to yearn connection, community and shared experiences. When your partner actively stops sharing their accomplishments with you or keeps exciting goals to themselves, it’s probably because they can’t see you seeing when those goals will come true in the future.

3. Doesn’t answer missed calls

Woman ignoring call on her phone Dikushin Dmitry | Shutterstock

If your partner isn’t consistently responding to your missed calls, it’s most likely because he or she is ignoring them in the first place.

Healthy partners who are committed to each other show up and communicate like each other, even when they’re going through a rough patch. Received, not committed and I’m confused about the suitability of their relationship They do the opposite; Whether they realize it or not, they withdraw, isolate themselves, or refuse to communicate in an effort to create distance.

4. Stops hanging out with friends and family

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According to social psychologist Theresa E. DiDonato Ph.D.Your partner’s family’s opinion of you is incredibly important in shaping not only your future family gatherings, but the health of your personal relationship as well.

If your partner stops making time to see and communicate with them, they are likely no longer able to maintain that bond, present themselves in a good light, or They’re wasting their own energy trying to appease you. They’re probably doing this not from a malicious perspective, but from a self-protective perspective to protect their own space.

Partners who actively distance themselves from your inner circle aren’t interested in fostering a healthy balance of connection and community—and that should be enough.

5. There’s a surprising new lack of intimacy

the couple is far from each other fizkes | Shutterstock

With many pests Societal expectations regarding physical intimacyFor women in particular, it is not uncommon for many to “hide” this in a misguided attempt to communicate with an otherwise unreachable partner. This dynamic in relationships is extremely toxic and further implicates the harmful rhetoric that women are less interested in intimacy than men.

The truth is, there are a million reasons why a woman might not want to be physically intimate, from her health to her emotional health and even her attraction to her partner. Of course, a period of time without this isn’t always an indication that a relationship is over, but for partners, this can be a great time for introspection.

When it comes to emotional expression and overall relationship satisfaction, women tend to see their own closeness in their partners’ negativity, while for men it’s more positive. In the same pairs, one Study from Pepperdine University Journal of Communication ResearchWomen valued their partners’ support most, while men valued nonverbal affection and verbal affirmation most.

Do you expect physical intimacy with your partner without supporting them in every aspect of your life? Are you resentful of your partner just because you disrupted your physical intimacy? Introspection can serve everyone well.

6. Spending habits are changing

Woman looking surprised while holding money Dikushin Dmitry | Shutterstock

Experts, like authors of a book The study published in the Journal of Consumer Researchclaim this”financial infidelity” is just as damaging to relationships as cheating or romantic infidelity. When your partner starts changing, hiding, or misleading you about their spending habits, they’re sabotaging the trust you’ve established.

Many people suggest that women who change their spending behavior in preparation for a breakup may stop spending money on a shared space or on personal care and instead start saving money to start a new chapter in their lives.

7. He wants to spend free time away from you

Woman looking angry and lonely at home Olha Nosova | Shutterstock

According to psychotherapist and relationship expert Deborah Krevalin, LPC, LMHCA partner who is out of love and preparing to end the relationship spends most of his time in his head. They are not only thinking about their own emotional changes, they are also preparing themselves for a breakup that requires communication and honesty.

Being around their partner may or may not cause loss of emotion may create discomfort, meaning they are likely to spend more time alone or with friends. They will stop inviting you to the grocery store, spending time with you in the evenings, or planning dates. If you notice this change, especially in a female partner, it may be time to decide: communicate and get back to a healthy placeor end things.

8. He no longer does chores or favors for you

Woman looking tired and looking at her phone Volodymyr TVERDOKHLIB | Shutterstock

Dr. Gary Chapman’s “First Love Languages: How Can You Express Your Sincere Devotion to Your Spouse?” is a daily commitment to your partner and a way to express your love for them—even if it’s something as simple as doing the dishes or folding your partner’s laundry.

Especially in women’s traditional cis-gender heterosexual relationships Assuming responsibility for the majority of household choresA change in these norms may be a sign that the compatibility of your relationship has also changed.

Actions speak louder than words. If your partner stops or gives up doing uncool things practical acts of service, like making you coffee When you wake up in the morning or make the bed, it may be a sign that your needs have changed, or even one of the subtle behaviors of women who are considering leaving their relationship.

9. It doesn’t make you feel like yourself.

Woman looking serious outside in nature Krakenimages.com | Shutterstock

A subtle sign that is equally important to you and to yourself is that a partner who no longer has meaning for you or is not invested in you will not make you feel good or healthy. Experts like: psychology coach Diane E. Dreher Ph.D. argues You may even feel emotionally and physically drained around a toxic person who may be your partner.

When anger occursIf people’s needs are not being met or a partner is not happy or satisfied in their relationship, it will change their energy and you will feel it. Trust your instincts and how you feel around your partner. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it.

10. He seems uncomfortable with you

man yawning while talking to woman Diego Cervo | Shutterstock

The energetic shifts in your baseline with your partner can tell you a lot about your relationship. Do you feel comfortable around them? Can you share an intense feeling with them and feel emotionally supported? Are you feeling exhausted? Are you seen as a burden in your own home or relationship?

Women emotionally detached from their relationships They may not always be good at hiding it, and sometimes they may not be actively hiding anything. Boredom is a side effect of resentment, an unfortunate emotion that subtly and subconsciously grows behind connections without revealing itself for months (or even years).

11. Stops posting your photos online

Woman looks happy and scrolling on her phone Perfect Wave | Shutterstock

A report from the New York Times Customer Insight GroupThe article, titled “The Psychology of Sharing,” argued that we share posts online to foster connections, community, and relationships in our lives. While 73% of social media users post to meet people with similar interests online, approximately 78% of them post to communicate and share news with people they do not see often in their lives.

If your partner stops taking and sharing photos of you, this could be their way of setting the stage for meeting someone new, but it could also be a subtle way of reminding the people in their life that you’re not their priority or something they’re looking for. I’m excited to talk about it.

While social media may seem unimportant to many partners, for those who use it in their daily lives, it is at least something to acknowledge.

12. He excludes you from conversations

Man who seems left out of the conversation Perfect Wave | Shutterstock

as described A research paper published in Plos OneFeeling heard in a relationship is essential to fostering a healthy dynamic in which both partners feel understood, supported, and loved. When a partner stops providing you with space to vent, share your feelings, or express your concerns, they are sacrificing both your mental health and relationship compatibility.

If you’re frequently interrupted in conversations with friends or completely excluded from online conversations, consider this a tactful gesture. reminding you that you are not prioritized.

Zayda Slabbekoorn is a news and entertainment writer at YourTango, focusing on health and wellness, social policy and human interest stories.