Dating

This is the first signal that you are about to be ghosted

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While it can often be unexpected and painful, there are often early signs that indicate you are being ghosted. Or almost, then. So pay close attention: then you can nicely get away.

Ghosting means that someone suddenly ignores you, while you thought you had that ‘click’ before. Connection? Yes, it was there. There was dating and maybe even more than that. But then someone disappears from the radar. How can you tell that it's almost time? Well, from less communication. That's clear: someone used to reply within a few minutes, and now it takes hours or even days. That's an important signal. But perhaps even better is to pay attention to how long the messages are that you receive back. The messages you receive are much shorter and less engaged than before. What used to be extensive conversations are now just a few words. And: you are always the one who has to start the conversation. The other person takes no initiative to reach out.

And then the alarm bells should start ringing. Be careful and especially don't invest too much of yourself in this relationship. Whether it's a friendship or a love affair, ghosting comes in many different forms. And it always hurts.

In addition to the decrease in communication, there are other signals that may indicate that you are being ghosted:

  • Cancellations. The other person regularly cancels plans at the last minute without a clear reason or tries to make no new plans.
  • Absence on socials. You notice that the other person is less active on social media or even ignores your messages while they like or respond to other people's posts.
  • Vague stuff. When you ask about the reason for the decrease in communication, you get vague answers or no explanation at all.

Ghosting can happen for various reasons, and although it is painful, it is important to understand that it often says more about the ghoster than about you. The other person may have lost interest but doesn't know how to communicate this in a respectful way. And don't take the sudden ignoring personally. If you eventually have contact with the ghoster again, set clear boundaries to protect yourself from further emotional pain. Because of course, you don't have to just put up with this behavior. You are worth more than this, never forget that.