How to know you fell out of love

Am I Falling Out Of Love? 8 Clear Signs & What To Do Next

What to consider if you think you're falling out of love.

Sometimes, we find ourselves at an emotional crossroads with our relationship's future. At times, this has nothing to do with your partner and their behavior. Maybe they didn't betray your trust or fail at good communication. The romantic uncertainty might just be coming completely from you, which can make you feel even worse.

To an extent, uncertainty is normal. Every relationship has periods of ambivalence, according to Jane Greer, Ph.D., a family and marriage therapist based in New York City. Questioning the nature of your romantic feelings for your partner can be caused by a flurry of things, like a big change in your own personal life (such as a tragic loss or major career move), a difficult fight, or maybe developing a crush on someone else. In this moment, the circumstantial confusion can sometimes cloud our understanding of how we feel about our partner.

"Being able to sort out the ambivalence is at the heart of every relationship," Greer tells mbg. "What is the degree of ambivalence, and can you get back to loving feelings?" That is the big question to ask yourself.

Below are some signs that come about when you are falling out of love, according to therapists.

Signs you're falling out of love.

You're less interested in spending time with them.

First of all, let's get it straight: Falling out of love is not the same thing as being unhappy in a relationship. According to Greer, unhappiness comes from your partner not meeting your needs, whether that's from something unresolved or disappointing. Hopefully, this can be fixed with some time, effort, and communication. A lack of interest, on the other hand, involves feelings duller than that. "You have no interest in spending time with [the person] or resolving conflicts, and being with [them] is lackluster," she explains. "Simply put, the thrill is gone. "

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You're thinking about them less and less.

"When you're falling out of love, you think about your partner less and less," she says. "Your partner is no longer in your thoughts." This isn't to say you need to remain in the heady infatuation of romantic love that's common at the start of relationships, when your partner consumes just about all your thoughts—it's totally normal for those all-consuming, crush-like thoughts about your partner to fade as the months and years go by. But something important might be fading if you find yourself constantly forgetting to check in with your partner, acting like you're single when your partner isn't around, or unable to remember or cherish important relationship milestones and rituals.

They start to feel like a burden.

Your person is now less appealing, and the thought of spending time with them now feels like a burden. Love often involves wanting to share big life moments with the person, Greer says, so a clear sign that you're falling out of love is having less of an inclination to share these meaningful experiences in your life with them. In other words, you're turned off by them.

Feeling this way probably has you also feeling guilty, as you may find yourself faking your way through your interactions to some extent. "It feels burdensome to have to pretend to be enjoying yourself or to go along with spending time together when you don't really want to," Greer explains. "You can't be your real, authentic self, and so it's more difficult to be around [them]."

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Their behavior is increasingly annoying to you.

When your feelings about your partner shift, you may also notice yourself being bothered by the little things that used to have no effect on you. Maybe it's the way they eat, the sounds they make while they're sleeping or thinking, or other mannerisms that have recently become glaringly obvious and irritating. This is part of finding your partner undesirable now.

You feel like you're just going through the motions.

There doesn't always have to be some blowout fight or dramatic ending to a relationship. You may find yourself still going through the motions of your everyday life—maintaining the house, planning meals, taking care of the kids, complaining about work, and so on, just like normal—and simply find yourself falling out of love as the routine repeats day in and day out. Even though you continue to wake up together and go through your daily rituals, you don't find yourself excited by your partner anymore. As Tina Tessina, LMFT, a California-based psychotherapist, puts it, "Think back to the early days of the relationship and how interested you were to hear what your partner had to say."

If it's all habitual patterns and no real emotional investment or substance behind your interactions, it may be a sign that the love has faded, and you're just living in the shell of where it once was. "There's no juice left in the relationship," Tessina tells mbg. "You may be fond of each other still, but you don't really feel connected."

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You're no longer having meaningful conversations.

Effective communication is a big cog of the mechanics of a successful relationship. If you're no longer inclined to engage in meaningful conversations with your partner, it might mean your feelings for them are changing. A few ways this might be appearing in your relationship: You aren't trying to get on the same page with your partner anymore. You don't want to convey your thoughts, and you also don't really have an interest in knowing their perspective. You've kind of given up.

You're no longer fighting.

A lack of meaningful communication may be especially foreboding for couples who had previously been fighting frequently, Tessina says. Moving into a phase of not really talking about anything serious can feel like a relief, but it can also be a sign that you've both put up white flags on the idea of being understood by each other. "When this happens, breaking up is often the next step if you don't get counseling and figure out how to talk to each other without fighting," she says.

Wanting to dialogue with your partner—share ideas, feel heard, and hear them—is a signal that you really care about them and that you're invested in the relationship. If that drive isn't there, you might be falling out of love.

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You're not really interested in changing things.

As Greer points out, a little uncertainty is normal in most relationships. But she adds that when you truly love someone, the uncertainty eventually passes, and the loving feeling returns. "When you fall out of love, you're anchored in the negative feelings," she says. You may be able to identify what's missing in your relationship, but the truth is, you find yourself reluctant to try to bring back that spark.

What now?

If you're trying to understand whether you're falling out of love with your partner, the above items can be helpful clues. But even if all of them ring true to you, Greer's advice suggests it might be wise to give it time. See how your feelings change.

If you're still caught in confusion and uncertainty after some time has passed, then consider facing the reality that your love might really be fading. What comes next is up to you. There are ways to stop falling out of love and save a relationship that's falling apart—if that's what you want. It's also important to recognize when it might be time to break up.

8 Signs You’re Falling Out of Love With Your Partner

Relationships
Love & Dating

Plus, advice on how to handle this situation.

Stacey Laura Lloyd

Stacey Laura Lloyd is an author with a passion for helping others find happiness and success in their dating lives as well as in their relationships.

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Updated on 09/15/22

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Minaa B.

Reviewed by Minaa B.

Minaa B. is a writer, mental health professional, and founder of Minaa B. Consulting.

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You and your partner were all smiles and passion at the beginning of your relationship. After some time, though, those euphoric feelings faded, and you've now found yourself reminiscing on the good times instead of looking forward to the future. If this sounds like you, you may be wondering: Am I falling out of love?

"When we leave the honeymoon phase, the rose-colored glasses we’ve worn up until that point begin to fade away, and for the first time, we see our areas of difference. This is natural," says relationship expert Chanel Dokun, cofounder of Healthy Minds NYC. "But when we’re truly falling out of love, the negative begins to outweigh the positive."

Meet the Expert

Chanel Dokun is a life planner and relationship expert trained in marriage and family therapy. She is the cofounder of therapy practice Healthy Minds NYC and the founder of Women of Consequence, a life-coaching service for women.

Unlike leaving the honeymoon phase of a relationship, which is an important step in taking your partnership to the next level, falling out of love means seeing the negative aspects of the person and not being able to move past them. When falling out of love, "We often become fixated on our differences, unable to find any common ground, and the flaws our partner has are no longer viewed as opportunities for growth but major character flaws," says Dokun.

Keep in mind that if you feel like you're falling out of love, it doesn't mean you don't care about your partner; it just means those intense feelings you used to experience aren't quite there anymore. You may feel pangs of guilt about your faded feelings, but that doesn't mean you should stay in a relationship that doesn't bring you joy. Even if you don't want to hurt the person, it's imperative that you listen to your heart and do what's best for you and your partner.

If you're wondering whether or not you're falling out of love with your partner, be on the lookout for these eight signs.

01 of 08

You’re Not Excited to Spend Time Together

If you were inseparable at the beginning of your relationship but no longer look forward to spending quality time with your partner, it may be a sign that you're falling out of love. On one hand, giving each other more space can be healthy. But if you find yourself eagerly making plans with anyone and everyone yet dreading an upcoming dinner date with your partner, it's time to reconsider your feelings.

It's nothing to feel guilty about, but it is an opportunity to reflect on your relationship—and yourself—to determine whether you're truly falling out of love. Evaluate what could be the driving force behind this change of heart, says Dokun. For example, "Lack of desire to see a partner could be indicative of a personal insecurity or fear of becoming too attached," she says.

02 of 08

You’re Not Open With Your Partner

When you feel comfortable sharing your innermost thoughts with another person, it's exciting. Opening up is an excellent way to connect with someone, so if you were once completely forthright and honest with your partner but are suddenly not interested in discussing what's on your mind, that's a red flag.

Worse, if you find your desire to share growing smaller and smaller to the point where you stop communicating with them altogether—also known as "stonewalling"—it's a sign that your relationship is becoming irreparable, says Dokun. Connecting with someone you're dating is a huge part of any successful relationship, so if you're walking away from conversations, not making eye contact, or refusing to discuss your feelings, it might be time to sever ties.

03 of 08

You Seek Out Opportunities to Avoid Your Partner

Besides no longer getting excited to spend time together, you may find yourself flat-out avoiding your partner. You may stay late at work, see movies or eat dinner by yourself, or even take the long way home to avoid being with your partner for a moment longer than you have to. When you’re actively finding ways to be without your significant other, it’s clear that either your feelings for that person have changed, or you aren't getting what you need out of the relationship.

If you find yourself avoiding your partner, take a step back and think about why. Once you've come to terms with your perspective, initiate an honest conversation. Ask your partner for what you need in order to strengthen your emotional experience together, if you feel your relationship still has potential,

04 of 08

You Choose Silent Contempt Over Disagreements

No one likes to argue, but sometimes you have to in order to strengthen your bond. Expressing and working through anger and hurt is crucial to maintaining a healthy partnership. Otherwise, your negative emotions will build into contempt—another major relationship killer, says Dokun—and it will sour every interaction you have with your partner. If you constantly keep quiet about the things they do that annoy or upset you instead of having discussions about them, your contempt may take over and slowly eat away at your relationship until its breaking point. This is a telltale sign you're falling out of love.

05 of 08

You Feel Uncertain About Your Future With Them

If you're unsure if you're falling out of love, ask yourself how you feel about your future as a couple. If you feel unhappy, trapped, or scared at the idea of being with your partner for the long haul, it's time to have a conversation with them. First, "Process your feelings through journaling, meditation, or even speaking with a neutral party, like a therapist," says Dokun. When you sit down to talk to your partner, "Simply state what you feel, and the concerns you’re having about what this could mean for your future together. "

Not looking forward to a future with your partner could be a clear indication of your faded feelings, but it could also be more complicated than that. "Feeling hopeless about the future could be that you’ve missed out on having meaningful conversations to this point and you’re unaware of your partner’s desires," says Dokun. It doesn't always mean you are no longer in love, but it's definitely a sign you should open a line of communication.

06 of 08

You’re Longing for Someone (or Something) Else

If you've been in a monogamous relationship with your partner for a long time, it's totally normal for you to develop a crush on someone else—as long as you don't act on it. After all, you're only human, and you can't help but find other people attractive. Your innocent crush can become a problem, though, if it minimizes your desire for your partner. If you find yourself thinking about all the things you could do and people you could meet if only you weren't in a relationship, it might be a sign you've fallen out of love.

When someone falls out of love, "They begin to shift their perspective from 'we' back to 'me,' primarily concerned with protecting their own needs, pursuing their own interests (at the expense of their partner), and building up distance or possibly resentment within the relationship," says Dokun. Constantly fantasizing about being with other people or intensely craving new experiences is a sign that you're no longer fully invested in your partner.

07 of 08

You're Overly Defensive

Dokun references Drs. John and Julie Gottman's theory of the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," or four dynamics that will bring a relationship to its demise: criticism, stonewalling, defensiveness, and contempt. We've already touched on stonewalling and contempt; defensiveness is another harmful communication tactic that shows you no longer see your partner in a positive light. Being defensive means shifting blame onto your partner in every situation as a response to feeling criticized or accused.

When you're defensive, it's impossible for your partner to air their grievances and communicate with you effectively. If you find you're being defensive in most conversations you have with your partner, you may be lacking the love it takes to keep the relationship going.

08 of 08

You Constantly Criticize Your Partner

Nobody likes being criticized, especially not a romantic partner. Another of the "Four Horseman." Criticism that becomes pervasive in your relationship is another sign you're falling out of love with your partner. Instead of being considerate of their feelings and expressing your disappointment in a respectful way, you assault their character every time they make a mistake or let you down in some way. According to the Gottmans, criticism is often the precursor to the other three horsemen.

It all comes down to whether you feel your criticism stems from not loving your partner or from some other internal psychological battle. This applies to all the signs above, too. Says Dokun, "Always ask yourself, 'What fear might be influencing my reaction to my partner, and is this something I am able to address or overcome without missing out on a great love of my life?'"

16 Signs of Falling in Love That Mean It's Real

Article Sources

Brides takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.

The Gottman Institute. "The Four Horsemen: Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling." Apr. 23, 2013.
The Gottman Institute. "The Four Horsemen: Criticism." Apr. 29, 2013.

What to do if you fell out of love

July 1, 2021 One on one Relationships

Do not blame yourself with a partner and be honest.

You can listen to the article. If it's more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.

Love sometimes leaves. It's not about cheating, it's not about someone on the side. It's just that at first a person does not cause former joy. Then it starts to get annoying. I no longer want to rush home after work, spend time together. General jokes are no longer funny, and nicknames are no longer funny. Perhaps the feelings cool down for both partners, but at different speeds. Simply, while one is still in doubt, the other admits to himself and to the person next to him that the fire has gone out. And it hurts everyone.

When a couple breaks up, usually all the sympathy and support goes to the one they left. There are many articles with advice on how to survive being out of love. But the one who has fallen out of love often falls out of the zone of attention, although he may suffer no less. Together with psychologists, we figure out how to find out that there are no more feelings, and what to do about it.

How to understand that there really are no feelings left

The only way is to understand yourself. This can be done on your own or with a specialist.

According to psychologist Anna Smetannikova, sometimes the feeling that love has passed can cause accumulated and unspoken claims and emotions. It happens that a person is going through a crisis period, is tired in general and spreads these feelings to a partner. It may seem that if it were not for the second half, then life would be completely different. And it makes you think that love is no more. Finally, often the cause is a banal habit.

Andrey Smirnov

psychologist.

Often the feeling that you have fallen out of love appears when you have too close and long contact with a partner. When people live together for a long time, they get used to each other and may not notice the good that is. As they say, what we have - we do not store, having lost - we cry. This is a very true and vital statement.

Therefore, when thinking out of the brackets, you need to take out grievances, conflicts and decide whether the feelings have really faded away. Here are a few signs by which you can recognize this:

You no longer want to spend time with your partner. You have little interest in everything connected with it.
When you think about the future, there is no place for a partner, at least in an optimistic scenario.
You feel worse with a partner than without him, or at least simply no better than being alone.
It seems to you that there is nothing more to be expected from this relationship.
You notice all the weaknesses and shortcomings of your partner and are not ready to forgive them. At the same time, you meet his efforts with indifference.
At the thought that a partner will stop loving you or meet someone else and leave, you experience joy and a sense of relief.
You meet quarrels with indifference and irritation, you no longer make efforts to get around sharp corners and not offend.
You are sorry to waste time, money, spiritual strength on your partner.

Who is to blame for the fact that feelings have faded

In a difficult situation, one of the usual human reactions is to appoint someone responsible for what is happening. There are two participants in a relationship, so there are only two options: you can blame yourself or your partner for everything. And in both cases it will be a mistake.

Andrey Smirnov

It is useless to look for the right and the wrong. Everyone is right in their own way, but the relationship has become obsolete. It's better to leave in a civilized manner. Feelings of guilt should not be. How it happened - it happened, nothing can be done about it.

How to talk to a partner

If you are not sure that you have fallen out of love

Anna Smetannikova offers to honestly share her feelings. Note that the partner is not the problem. You just need time to sort yourself out.

Anna Smetannikova

clinical psychologist.

Only by talking to your partner can you find the best solution for your couple. Find out together if you want to keep what's left of your feelings, or if it's not worth the effort.

If you both have something to cherish in this relationship and are ready to try to save them, start as soon as possible. Seeing a family psychologist or couples relationship counselor can help. But if this option is not for you, then talk honestly with your partner about everything that has accumulated between you. Start spending more time with each other. Find out (or remember) how each of you understands love: for some, these are warm words, for some, gifts, for others, hugs.

If there were grievances and quarrels between you, but you are ready to forgive them and be together, do it. If there are circumstances that, in your opinion, cannot be forgiven, then the best solution is not to waste time on such a relationship. Although the choice is always yours.

Illustration: Anna Guridova / Lifehacker

If you are sure that you have fallen out of love

Even if you no longer love a person, his presence must be considered. And here the main thing is to remember that your partner is not your enemy, he is not to blame for anything. You spent some time together, you were probably happy, so he deserves respect and respect for him.

Anna Smetannikova advises to talk about yourself and your feelings softly and at the same time categorically. Put the person before the fact, and do not translate the conversation into a dialogue. Otherwise, the partner may begin to make excuses or make some promises in the hope that everything can be fixed.

Anna Smetannikova

It's not worth sorting things out and going over to accusations, just like making excuses. Let the person react the way they want: get up and leave or talk. But let go and accept his words and actions with a clear inner intention that this is your decision and cannot be changed.

It happens that you decide to leave, but delay the conversation: you do not know how to approach it, and you are tormented by remorse. In this case, think about how much of your time and your partner's time you are willing to spend on prolonging this agony, which as a result will still end in a break. If you are afraid, sort out your fears. You can directly write them down on a piece of paper. What are you afraid of? What's the worst thing that can happen? And is it scarier than living in an unhappy relationship for both of you?

The longer you delay talking, the harder and harder will be the consequences of your insincerity. In any case, your soul mate will have a hard time, especially if there are children, jointly acquired property, business. But the sooner you talk after you know you've fallen out of love, the better. After all, your personal happy life and the life of your former loved one are at stake. Even if for now you manage to create the illusion that nothing has changed, over time it will become more and more difficult to do this, so that the relationship will sooner or later turn into suffering for both.

What to do if after a breakup it turned out that you are still in love

After all the talks and breakups, you may realize that the feelings have not faded away. Perhaps you rushed, and now you feel an oppressive emptiness. In this case, it is worth trying to renew the relationship.

Andrey Smirnov

Often imaginary pride does not allow taking the first step towards reconciliation. It should be discarded: life is already not too long to spend it in suffering. It does not matter who takes the first step towards reconciliation - a man or a woman. And the second partner should also show understanding and generosity. Often, after such outbreaks with a break, feelings even flare up with renewed vigor.

If your partner is against it, go to the next point, it will suit you too.

Illustration: Anna Guridova / Lifehacker

What to do with emptiness after parting, even if you know that there are no feelings

Breaking up a relationship is stressful. It is perfectly normal that it will bring you a new portion of pain and doubt. You find yourself completely yanked out of your old life. The future can be scary, especially when it comes to relationships. It seems that you will not meet anyone else, and if you fall in love again, then for a short period, because you already have a bitter experience.

But this is completely optional. When you get over the loss, you will surely love again. More than 7 billion people live in the world, and among them there is someone who will light your heart with renewed vigor. Studies show that people whose first marriage failed are happier in their second. So the chances of a successful love life are much higher than if you stayed in a relationship that no longer pleases.

Have you ever been in this situation? How did you manage to deal with it? Share in the comments.

How do you know that you have stopped loving?

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Man and womanCrisis of relationshipsPractices how to

In love, everything occurs: constant quiet burning, and recessions, and bursts, and brightness, and heat under the coals (especially when the wind blows) . .. But in situations about which it will be discussed below, too clearly, constantly and clearly there is a touch of breathlessness.

Anna Karenina in Leo Tolstoy's novel of the same name began to irritate her husband's ears. If something like this happens to you: before something did not cause a reaction, but now it catches your eye all the time or what you liked is now repulsive, most likely, there have been big changes in the relationship.
They look at you a little, they turn away more often. Or you began to notice such an attitude towards your partner.
Conversations are mostly about formal things, they start just to take time and maintain a semblance of contact.
Often, for little or no reason, you talk to each other in an irritated tone.
They constantly argue with you or are silent, as if they are holding the answer or remark in themselves.
You notice that you become uninterested in almost everything that your partner says or can say. Communication with him seems to take energy.
You are rarely smiled at. If you look closely, you will notice that in your presence they hold their breath.
The partner does not continue the proposed topic, but strives to complete it as soon as possible.
You catch yourself feeling that everything has already been said between you, there will be nothing new and “you must endure”.
Around the person who has fallen out of love, it is as if a gap is being formed, a “shadow”, a border that one does not want to cross. This applies to everything - topics for communication, activities, people around ...
There is a feeling that you are wasting time, boredom and doom are felt in everything.
Near a partner, familiar things cease to please. Everything becomes dull and uninteresting.

Of course, we can say that the listed signs are just insignificant details, but life consists of them, its imperceptible part, but affecting the atmosphere and mood.

Learn more

How to know you fell out of love

Am I Falling Out Of Love? 8 Clear Signs & What To Do Next

What to consider if you think you're falling out of love.

Signs you're falling out of love.

You're less interested in spending time with them.

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You're thinking about them less and less.

They start to feel like a burden.

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Their behavior is increasingly annoying to you.

You feel like you're just going through the motions.

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You're no longer having meaningful conversations.

You're no longer fighting.

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You're not really interested in changing things.

What now?

8 Signs You’re Falling Out of Love With Your Partner

You’re Not Excited to Spend Time Together

You’re Not Open With Your Partner

You Seek Out Opportunities to Avoid Your Partner

You Choose Silent Contempt Over Disagreements

You Feel Uncertain About Your Future With Them

You’re Longing for Someone (or Something) Else

You're Overly Defensive

You Constantly Criticize Your Partner

What to do if you fell out of love

How to understand that there really are no feelings left

Who is to blame for the fact that feelings have faded

How to talk to a partner

If you are not sure that you have fallen out of love

If you are sure that you have fallen out of love

What to do if after a breakup it turned out that you are still in love

What to do with emptiness after parting, even if you know that there are no feelings

How do you know that you have stopped loving?