How Does a Man Feel When a Woman Leaves Him? (Explained)

How does a man feel when a woman leaves him?

There is no set answer to this, and in fact, a man feels many or all of the same emotions as a woman does after a split.

The main difference is that guys are more likely to try and hide their feelings or deny being so emotional or hurt.

Here is a look at the common emotions a guy will go through when a woman leaves him:

How Does a Man Feel When A Woman Leaves Him?

Shocked and Even in Denial

The first stage a man usually goes through when a woman leaves him is usually shock and disbelief.

He might not want to believe that it has happened, no matter how bad the relationship was. He might also try to convince himself that she will come back or that this is all just a dream.

A man in this stage might even beg and plead with the woman to stay if he’s struggling to deal with the reality of being dumped.

There is no set rule for how long it takes for a guy to accept that he’s being left, it could take anywhere from days to months, even years.

Related – Here is a look at the emotions a guy goes through after a divorce or breakup.

Upset and Possibly Even Regretful

The second stage a man might experience after being dumped is feeling upset and regretful.

He might start to think about all the ways he could have done things differently in the relationship or what he could have done to make her stay.

This can be an incredibly tough stage to deal with as it’s easy to get stuck in a loop of self-blame and self-pity.

A man might also start to feel jealous of other couples or people in happy relationships, and even push his friends away who are in happy relationships.

Again, he may reach out during this phase and try to reconcile if the breakup is hitting him hard.

Equally, he might just recoil into a shell and deal with it by being down on himself.

Lonely and In Need of Answers

The third stage a man might go through is feeling lonely and in need of answers.

He might start wondering why the woman left him, what he did wrong, and whether there was anything he could have done to prevent it.

This can be an incredibly confusing and frustrating time as he’s trying to make sense of everything that has happened and life on his own.

Some guys deal with this phase better than others.

Some will go out with friends and try to put a positive spin on things, while others will sink deeper into depression and spend a lot of time on their own.

Angry and Hurt

The fourth stage is feeling angry and hurt.

This is usually when the man starts to accept that he’s been dumped and starts to feel all the pain and hurt that comes with it.

He might start lashing out at friends and family or even his ex, whether it’s in person or online, trying to get some sort of reaction or closure from her.

If he sees his ex out with a new partner or having fun with friends, this usually only adds fuel to the fire.

This can be a really destructive phase if he’s not careful as he might say or do something he regrets.

It’s important for him to try and find a healthy outlet for this anger, whether it’s going to the gym or talking to a therapist.

Acceptance and Willing to Admit Faults

Not all guys reach or go through this phase, but it’s a crucial part of the healing phase if they do.

This is when the man starts to accept what has happened and is willing to admit his own faults in the relationship.

He might start to see things from her perspective and understand why she left him.

This can be a really tough stage as it’s admitting that he was wrong or that he wasn’t good enough for her, but it’s an important step in moving on.

If a guy does go through this reflective stage, it doesn’t mean he will be able to reconcile with her – but it does mean he has the best chance of growing as a person and learning from his mistakes.

Related – Tips to help a man going through a divorce and what to expect when newly single!

Forgiveness and Hopeful About the Future

The final stage is forgiveness and being hopeful about the future.

This is when he’s completely forgiven himself and his ex for what happened and is ready to move on with his life.

This stage can be tricky as he might still have some residual feelings for her, but he’s able to see things objectively and is no longer consumed by thoughts of her.

He might start dating again or get back into hobbies and activities he enjoyed before the relationship.

This is usually a really positive stage as he’s able to see all the good things that are still in his life and is looking forward to the future.

At the end of the day we all make mistakes, and most of us are going to go through a few breakups.

It’s not the breakup or the experience that makes us who we are, it’s how we deal with it and learn from it.

If you’re going through a tough breakup, just remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel and you will get through it.

Just take it one day at a time.

If you’re struggling to deal with a breakup, there is help available. Talk to a therapist or counselor who can help you work through your feelings and start to move on.

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Image credits – Photo by Jonas Jaeken on Unsplash