Men who no longer feel love often display these 8 behaviors (without fully realizing it)

There’s a significant difference between a man falling out of love and just going through a tough time.

The difference is often subtle, showing itself in understated changes to behavior. When a man’s feelings start to wane, he may not even realize it himself, let alone be able to communicate it.

As a relationship expert and founder of the Love Connection blog, I’ve seen this pattern emerge time and time again. The behaviors are common, yet often overlooked.

In this article, you’re about to discover the 8 tell-tale signs that a man might be falling out of love, usually without fully realizing it himself.

Let’s get started. 

1) Decreased communication

Where love thrives, communication blooms.

In contrast, I’ve noticed that men who are no longer feeling the love often display a significant reduction in their communication patterns. They may become more reserved, less open, or just plain silent.

This behavior is an unconscious way of distancing oneself from the relationship. It’s not that they’re purposefully trying to be mysterious or aloof, often it’s quite the opposite – they’re just unsure of how to articulate their feelings, or lack thereof.

Remember, communication is the lifeblood of any relationship. If you notice this shift in behavior, it might be time to have an open and honest conversation about how he’s feeling.

But keep in mind that every person and every relationship is unique. In some cases, this behavior might simply be a sign of stress or other external factors, rather than a lack of love.

Don’t jump to conclusions based on one sign alone. Yet, if this behavior is coupled with some others that we will discuss later on in this article, it might suggest something deeper is going on.

As always, approach these situations with empathy and understanding – you may just help him uncover feelings he wasn’t fully aware of himself.

2) Lack of physical affection

I’ve always been a firm believer in the power of touch – a gentle squeeze of the hand, a warm hug, or a simple pat on the back can speak volumes about how we feel towards someone.

Men who are losing their feelings often start pulling away physically. They may become less inclined to engage in those little acts of affection that used to come so naturally.

It’s as though they’re subconsciously trying to create a physical representation of the emotional distance they’re beginning to feel.

As the great Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

A decrease in physical affection can leave one feeling unloved or unwanted – feelings that are hard to forget.

3) Avoids future plans

One of the things I’ve frequently observed in my years of relationship counseling is that when men start to lose feelings, they often begin to avoid making future plans.

Whether it’s about planning a vacation, discussing where to spend the holidays, or even just deciding on a date night for the following week – they seem to become disinterested or non-committal.

In my book, Breaking The Attachment: How To Overcome Codependency in Your Relationship, I delve into how this avoidance can be a subconscious fear of commitment because they’re unsure about their feelings.

It’s natural to question and reassess your feelings in a relationship. But it’s also crucial to communicate these thoughts with your partner. Ignoring or avoiding them will only lead to more confusion and pain.

4) Increased generosity

Now, this may seem counterintuitive, but stick with me for a moment.

Interestingly, some men who no longer feel love often display an increase in generosity. They might start showering you with gifts or going out of their way to do nice things for you.

You might think, “But isn’t that a good thing?”

Well, not always. Sometimes, this increased generosity is actually a subconscious way of compensating for their lack of emotional connection. It’s as if they’re trying to make up for their dwindling feelings with material expressions of affection.

It’s not the value or frequency of the gifts that matter in a relationship – it’s the love and thought behind them.

5) Less interested in your day

As a relationship expert, and also from personal experiences, I’ve learned that one of the most telling signs of genuine love is the interest we show in our partner’s day-to-day life.

When a man is in love, whether it’s the mundane aspects of your job, the funny anecdote about your trip to the grocery store, or your thoughts on the latest book you’ve read – he’ll want to hear all about it.

But when a man starts to lose those feelings, he might become less interested in these small yet significant details of your life. It’s not that they mean to be insensitive or uncaring – it’s often an unconscious shift that they themselves might not even notice.

6) Emotional unavailability

Let’s be raw and honest here. Emotional unavailability is a clear sign that a man might be falling out of love.

When a man starts to pull away emotionally, he may become less empathetic, less responsive to your feelings, and might even avoid deep or meaningful conversations.

It’s as if there’s an emotional wall being built to shield them from vulnerability – from having to confront the truth about their feelings. This detachment can be hurtful and confusing for the person on the receiving end.

It’s okay to feel hurt. It’s okay to feel confused. Your feelings are valid and important.

But also remember that this emotional unavailability might not be intentional. He might be struggling with his own emotions and doesn’t know how to process them.

7) Less time together

Throughout my years in the relationship field and from personal experiences, I’ve come to appreciate the truth in the saying by renowned psychologist, M. Scott Peck: “Love is the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another’s spiritual growth.”

When a man starts spending less time with you, not because he’s genuinely busy, but because he chooses to, it could be a sign that he’s falling out of love.

His focus seems to shift away from nurturing the relationship and more towards other aspects of his life. This change can be subtle and gradual, making it easy to overlook or dismiss.

If you’re feeling like you’re seeing less and less of him, it might be time to have a heart-to-heart talk about your relationship. It’s always better to address these concerns early on rather than letting the distance grow.

Every relationship goes through ups and downs. The key is to navigate these trials with love, patience, and open communication.

8) Lack of eye contact

Let’s get honest here. Eye contact is more than just a simple look – it’s a powerful form of communication, and often a mirror into one’s emotions.

When a man starts avoiding eye contact, it can indicate a deep-seated discomfort or uncertainty about his feelings. It’s as if he’s avoiding your gaze to dodge the emotional intimacy that comes with it.

This behavior might seem trivial, but it’s often a silent cry for help – a sign that he’s wrestling with his feelings and doesn’t know how to handle them.

Love is complex and often messy. Just because he’s showing these signs doesn’t mean he has stopped loving you entirely. But it does mean that there are issues that need to be addressed.

If you notice this change, approach the situation with kindness and understanding. Encourage open communication and remember – sometimes the most profound truths are found in silence.

Conclusion

The journey of love can be a complex maze of emotions and behaviors. Recognizing these signs is the first step in understanding what’s happening in your relationship.

Remember, these behaviors don’t necessarily mean he’s fallen out of love completely, but they might indicate that it’s time for some open and honest communication.

In my book, Breaking The Attachment: How To Overcome Codependency in Your Relationship, I offer practical advice and insights to navigate these tricky emotional waters.

So, if you’re noticing these signs in your relationship, don’t despair. Be patient, be kind, and most importantly, keep the lines of communication open. Your relationship is worth it.