10 Signs an Emotionally Unavailable Man Is in Love with You

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns of Emotional UnavailabilitySigns He’s in LoveWhy It’s Important to Recognize the SignsHow to Respond

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Signs of Emotional Unavailability

Signs He’s in Love

Why It’s Important to Recognize the Signs

How to Respond

Dating someone who isemotionally unavailablecan be a rollercoaster of hope and confusion. We find ourselves wondering: Is he really into me? Does he even care? How can he be super affectionate one minute, then shut me out the next? Is there something real here or am I just imagining it?

“People who are emotionally unavailable tend to come off as distant, cold, or aloof,” saysSabrina Romanoff,PsyD, a clinical psychologist and relationship expert. “They struggle with communication and talking about their feelings and emotions.”

Dating an emotionally unavailable person can have a significant emotional impact, often leaving you feeling frustrated, confused, and unfulfilled, saysTatiana Rivera Cruz, MSW, LCSW,a therapist at ADHDAdvisor.

This is what emotional unavailability can look like in relationships:

Dating someone who is emotionally unavailable can have you feeling like you’re constantly chasing them, seeking more, and feeling needy for the affection of a person who is very reluctant to give emotionally and be fully seen, says Dr. Romanoff.

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Signs an Emotionally Unavailable Man Is in Love with You

If an emotionally unavailable man is in love with you, he may not be able to express his feelings and tell you so outright. In fact, he may not even realize it himself. However, there may be signs that indicate he cares more than he lets on:

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Here’s why it’s important to recognize the signs that your partner might be in love with you:

Did You Know?Research shows that women care more about the emotional aspects of a relationship than the physical, and may be more likely to break up with a partner who is emotionally unavailable.

Did You Know?

Research shows that women care more about the emotional aspects of a relationship than the physical, and may be more likely to break up with a partner who is emotionally unavailable.

How to Respond to This Love

Once you know the signs, it’s time to ask yourself: Can you make do with what he’s able to give you?

Responding to emotional unavailability in a relationship requiresself-awareness, clear boundaries, and careful consideration of your emotional well-being, says Cruz.

Responding to emotional unavailability in a relationship requires self-awareness, clear boundaries, and careful consideration of your emotional well-being.—TATIANA RIVERA CRUZ, MSW, LCSW

Responding to emotional unavailability in a relationship requires self-awareness, clear boundaries, and careful consideration of your emotional well-being.

—TATIANA RIVERA CRUZ, MSW, LCSW

Here’s how to approach it thoughtfully:

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Takeaways

Navigating a relationship with an emotionally unavailable man can feel like piecing together a puzzle, one hint at a time. While he might not express his feelings in the ways you’re used to, love can still shine through in the small, significant ways he shows up for you. By recognizing the signs, you may get a glimpse of his true feelings, even if he’s not ready to say the words out loud.

However, it’s important to remember that healthy relationships require opencommunicationand emotional intimacy. If you find yourself in a relationship where your needs aren’t being met, you need to prioritize your own well-being and consider whether the person is really the one for you.

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2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wade TJ, Mogilski J.Emotional accessibility is more important than sexual accessibility in evaluating romantic relationships—especially for women.Front Psychol. 2018 May 14;9:632. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00632An U, Park HG, Han DE, Kim YH.Emotional suppression and psychological well-being in marriage: the role of regulatory focus and spousal behavior.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 15;19(2):973. doi:10.3390/ijerph19020973

2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wade TJ, Mogilski J.Emotional accessibility is more important than sexual accessibility in evaluating romantic relationships—especially for women.Front Psychol. 2018 May 14;9:632. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00632An U, Park HG, Han DE, Kim YH.Emotional suppression and psychological well-being in marriage: the role of regulatory focus and spousal behavior.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 15;19(2):973. doi:10.3390/ijerph19020973

Wade TJ, Mogilski J.Emotional accessibility is more important than sexual accessibility in evaluating romantic relationships—especially for women.Front Psychol. 2018 May 14;9:632. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00632An U, Park HG, Han DE, Kim YH.Emotional suppression and psychological well-being in marriage: the role of regulatory focus and spousal behavior.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 15;19(2):973. doi:10.3390/ijerph19020973

An U, Park HG, Han DE, Kim YH.Emotional suppression and psychological well-being in marriage: the role of regulatory focus and spousal behavior.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 15;19(2):973. doi:10.3390/ijerph19020973

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Signs an Emotionally Unavailable Man Is in Love with You#

Did You Know?#

How to Respond to This Love#

Takeaways#

Signs an Emotionally Unavailable Man Is in Love with You

Did You Know?

How to Respond to This Love

Takeaways