Commitment Issues? What to do when you’re dating a commitment-phobe

Some people are all about the chase. Dating a commitment-phobe is thankfully pretty uncommon, but it’s also something you never expect to happen to you (until it does). Don’t take it personally; people with commitment issues tend to have a tough time connecting with other aspects of their life, such as friends, family, work and even their living environment. It really isn’t you, it’s them…

Which isn’t to say that commitment-phobes don’t deserve some sympathy. Men and women with commitment issues tend to have a deep fear of intimacy, and their feelings are borne of a learned negative opinion of love and relationships. Ultimately, their sense of dread about making a commitment becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, and the relationships they pursue are doomed.

Identifying a Commitment-phobe

Sad though the situation is, if you’re hoping for long-term love but are dating a commitment-phobe you’re probably better off out of the relationship. Entering into any romantic relationship thinking you can change the other person is a bad idea. How can you tell if your partner has commitment-phobia? Ask yourself:

What’s their pattern? Have they had lots of short, non-committed relationships in the past?

Do they disappear from your radar for days, sometimes weeks, at a time?

Do they often fail to reply to your messages?

Commitment-phobes are the ones who don’t introduce you to their friends or family. They’re the ones who almost never have you over to their apartment. They tend to compartmentalize their lives so that the romantic and personal and professional hardly ever overlap – if you’re excluded from the other important aspects of their lives, this should be a red flag.

Many of the worst offending commitment-phobes are in fact incredibly charming at the start of a relationship – but what starts off as exciting and spontaneous can soon become unreliable and erratic. If what you’re looking for is a serious relationship, eventually you must forget the idea that your partner was romantic and attentive in the beginning – a commitment-phobe isn’t invested enough in your relationship to keep this up. If their part-time love is not enough, it might be time to start looking elsewhere…

Dealing with Commitment-phobia

Once you’ve identified the fact that you’re in a relationship with someone who has commitment issues, be pro-active in trying to solve it. If you’re unhappy with your situation, don’t make the mistake of doing nothing about it. You can’t be afraid to admit to yourself: “This isn’t what I want.” You should feel no guilt if you say: “This isn’t what I signed up for.”

Chances are that your partner has been told that they’re a commitment-phobe before – or they’ll at least have some awareness of the fact that they prefer to keep things casual. Since this is the case, don’t be afraid to broach the subject in a conversation with them. The trouble is that commitment-phobes don’t like conflict, and people with commitment issues are pretty good at making you feel like the crazy one. Stand up for yourself, stick to your guns, and a true commitment phobe will run for the hills¹.

Dating someone with commitment-phobia can be both painful and confusing. But coming out the other side of it you’ll be much stronger for having had the struggle. Think of it this way: you’ve successfully avoided the inevitable heart-break of trying to make a future with a commitment-phobe, and are free to pursue a relationship with someone who is seeking a similar level of commitment as you. Plus, you’ll have your eyes open the next time a smooth talker with commitment issues tries to date you!

Beyond Commitment Issues: Valuing Yourself

Dating a commitment-phobe can really undermine your self-confidence, and always having to ask yourself “does he like me?” or “does she really see a future for us?” is no way to live. Learning to value yourself and ensuring your self-esteem is intact is the first step to moving on. In time, you’ll be able to find the serious relationship you deserve.

Two fundamental transgressions are made when you date someone with commitment issues. Firstly they betray your trust by appearing romantic only to later go off the boil, and secondly they display a huge lack of respect in not taking you or your needs seriously². Ultimately, their selfishness can cause damage to your ability to have faith in new romantic partners and to feel confident that they’ll value both you and your needs.

What do you need to do to get yourself ready for a new relationship? Take the time to take stock of the relationship now it’s over if you must, but remember that you’re worthy of something new, something better – and you always were! Writing in an article for EliteSingles, Mary Lamia PhD states “Letting go has to do with the process of moving forward and learning from your past relationship experience. When you lose a connection, it is through connecting with someone else that recovery and further learning takes place.”³

EliteSingles members are all on our site for one reason: they want to find long-lasting love. You can be confident that the people you meet using our service are commitment-minded and serious about their search for love. Join today, and never waste your time on a commitment-phobe again!

READ MORE: How to get out of bad dates (nicely)

About the author: Michael Middleton

Michael Middleton is an editor for EliteSingles.

See more articles written by Michael Middleton