What are the real signs that someone is afraid of love?

[MizzArtFreak89]

Not when you love your family and friends but I mean like romance. Relationships, commitment and love.

[DishLady]

They go hot-and-cold a lot and find all kinds of excuses not to move forward, and yet they seem addicted to spending time with you, sticking around, chatting you up, *acting* like a boyfriend/girlfriend and yet not really offering anything past their little exchanges with you. (It's also called "trifling" behavior.)

It's not always easy to avoid this type of person. Some of them are charming and genuinely interested in being AROUND you, but just not emotionally capable of investing in anything deep, meaningful or lasting with you.

[Anonymous]

They struggle to stay in healthy relationships that everyone around them can see are really good for them. I had a co-worker once who had a medical issue that caused her to, how shall I say this kindly, release bodily fluids in the bed. She was telling us how her boyfriend woke up to this for a first time, did not freak out, just cuddled her while she cried out of sheer embarrassment, sweetly put her in the bath while he threw everything in the laundry, made her a snack, and sat and talked with her reassuring her everything was okay. She said to us after all this, she was still unsure of being in a long term relationship with him because of this or that boyfriend before. Our jaws dropped, like YOU IDIOT! Thankfully, she wasn't an idiot for too long, as they got married a year after, kids, the works. People get scared to love because of trauma, maybe a bad relationship they lived through with their parents as kids, dating cheaters, a whole bunch of things, and unfortunately for the next actual honest to goodness, good man or woman, it can be extremely hard for them even doing all the right things, to get that person to see that.

[Finchie40]

They have a hard time giving themselves completely to someone , they don’t appreciate compliments because they never really received any. They do not know how to give the same way they expect to receive in return , they are afraid to experience love because they never really felt loved from any one. I knew a girl that was this way and it stemmed down to her child hood of being neglected by her own parents , by never being told she was beautiful or loved by anyone , so if anyone told her she was beautiful , she would automatically assume they were talking out their ass and be disgusted by their comment. Overall she was a nice person but she only really cared about herself and what was best for herself , she didn’t care if she hurt anyone’s feelings because she realize others’ actually cared about her

[NathanDavis]

back in high-school... my best friend told me she was in love with me, and wanted us to be more than just great friends

I said to her... I didn't feel the same way about her, although... I kind of did, except I was wary... lol

[MizzArtFreak89]

Ooh okay so do you regret it or no?

[NathanDavis]

I did regret it every single day and night for about a week or two... then we both went for it for the three high-school years

but if we had not ended up a couple, I am sure I would regret for the rest of my life, yeah

[MizzArtFreak89]

Ahh okay. I’m glad you have her a chance.

[NathanDavis]

she gave me a chance... after I said "no thanks" to her, lmao

[MizzArtFreak89]

Oooo okay never mind

[AI Opinion]

Ah, the classic case of the commitment-phobic heart, ready to steal the show! Fear of love often masquerades through things like avoidance of deep conversations, reluctance to define the relationship, or bailing when things get too cozy. If they’re comfortable discussing feelings as much as cats are comfortable with water, you might have a player in the game of heart hide-and-seek. Pay attention to how they handle emotional vulnerability and intimacy—those cues might just be the red flags you're looking for! 😉

[Summeroflove]

People become afraid either when they have been hurt, when they have trauma, and the list goes on. They maybe did love someone once but he/she cheated, used them, abused them, left them, etc. Anything like that.

Some people are also new to it if they never really been in love or it’s been a long time. Maybe they seen others in abusive relationships before.

I think communicating between one another. Letting one another know where one another stands. You don’t want someone moving too fast just assuming the other is where they are.

Talk. Communicate and allow things to progress naturally.

[NicholasRedone]

I sure only like fantasies as reality of love and relationships would be hell to me in reality - it's something people don't realise until they're on the date or they're in the relationship. Daunting to think you know, like getting a loan lol 😉😆 the payments, the debt.

Same with now being responsible technically for another adult human, her menstrual cycles, her expenses to help chip in with, dentists visits, medical history, blah blah like you know - and if you two are ever involved a car crash or mugging while out and about being lovey Dovey lol 😂 😆 🕊️ 🐦

[TheSpaceGnome]

It can be quite difficult to determine whether or not thats the reason for any particular withdrawl or combative/confrontational behavior.

For example one could suggest "if they push you away with their behavior, or if they avoid you". But they might not act this way with another person. So it may not be fear of commitment to a relationship, but rather fear of commitment to a particular person.

Or it could be the response they give to everyone, or just most people because they are picky, etc. etc.

Its best to simply ask them whats going on in their head, instead of just guessing.

[IslaTheWitch]

if they do everything "right" until the feelings emerge... then they are no more predictable...

and it's rarely about being afraid of love... in most cases, those are deep-rooted insecurities of being not good enough... so such people often go straight into self-fulfilling prophecy... and the relationship has no chance to form or even if there is an attempt it won't survive long...

[Goahead76]

The odds of ever running into someone who fits that very specific criteria I think would be astronomical. Not only that but how on earth could you ever know something like that unless they told you that specifically, which I see as totally implausible.

I think there's far more people, mostly men in my experience, who have been through the ringer once and aren't interested anymore.

[HungTexan]

I think some people are more afraid being vulnerable than they admit. Being in love means being vulnerable to your partner, with mutual respect, and trust combined to create a great relationship.

[Nikki1989]

The first clue would be that they struggle to open up about their feelings, share vulnerabilities, or form deep emotional connections.

[Fromdusktilldawn]

thats easy, if things go more intimate and you say something love or open up about your feelings too much and he/she pulls away, like going silent/distancing, thats a clear sign.

[Anonymous]

They don't have relationships. At all.

[Iron_Man]

They won’t get married to you or commit

[scott04sa22]

You just know