Why do I want people who dont want me?

“There can be so many pressures in society to date and it is important to think through what you really want. If you do not want a relationship, that's definitely okay. Find ways to own that even if others do not understand. What’s most important is doing what feels right for you.” - Ryan Smith, LPC, NCC

Do you or someone you know steer clear of romantic relationships entirely? In many cultures and societies, the preference for staying single is out of the norm. However, this does not mean it is wrong. There are many reasons why some people choose to stay single and not commit to a relationship. Depending on the reason, there is usually not a cause for concern for this mindset. It is not a bad thing to not want to be in a relationship, and you don’t need to give someone an explanation as to why you don’t want one. However, if it is because something that happened in the past is holding you back from getting emotionally attached to someone, this can be a sign of an issue.

What Is A Good Reason To Not Commit?

If you have found yourself thinking, “I don’t want a relationship,” you may have a justified reason for your relationship preferences. Being not interested in dating is getting more common daily. There are times in life where a committed relationship doesn’t make sense. For example, starting a relationship just before you move to a different state or country may not be the best idea, especially when you are not sure about the relationship, to begin with. Another common reason people don’t want to commit is that they just got out of a long-term relationship and are not ready to open up to someone else just yet.

So, are there any “bad” reasons people choose not to commit? This is clearly very subjective, but some reasons can be a sign of being hurt or emotionally unavailable. If you don’t want to get in a relationship because you don’t trust anyone because of someone who hurt you in the past, you may want to consider working through these trust issues with a counselor. Another reason could be that you have no desire to have deep and meaningful connections with anyone, let alone a romantic relationship. This is another way not being interested in a relationship can be a sign of a deeper issue that can easily be addressed.

Reasons Why People Prefer To Not Commit

There are some other common reasons people prefer to not commit to a romantic partner.

Remember, if you feel comfortable and happy with your life right now without a romantic partner, there is nothing wrong with that. You don’t need to get in a romantic relationship because society tells you to. If you are choosing to be single from a place of happiness, continue and don’t feel like you must justify your decision. On the other hand, if you are single out of a place of hurt or anger, this may be a reason to see a counselor.

1. Not Wanting To Compromise Wants Or Values

Some people see being in a relationship as something they don’t want because it means you can no longer be selfish. A relationship is all about compromising and working together. People who are not in relationships can do whatever they want when they want. They only have to think about themselves and making themselves happy. In a relationship, you have to always think of the other person. If you make plans, you have to think about how that affects the other person. There is nothing wrong with wanting to keep your freedom. Keeping your personal freedom could be the sole reason that holds someone back from committing. Perhaps they only want to date around and not be serious. Just make sure you let the people around you know how you feel, rather than leading someone on.

2. Emotionally Unavailable

Much like not wanting to give up their freedom, many people do not want to give up their emotional freedom. Many people do not like to express emotions at all and want to keep how they are feeling to themselves. It makes them feel vulnerable, weak, fearful of rejection, and many other feelings. Being in a relationship involves communicating deeply with your partner and telling each other how you feel. For some, this is something that can feel impossible, so they avoid talking about emotions at all costs. The easiest way to do this is to no longer be in meaningful relationships. This mentality is not psychologically healthy, as being able to communicate how you are feeling is a very important skill to master.

If you recognize some signs of emotional unavailability in you or someone you know, this could be the primary reason they don’t want a romantic relationship. For a short period, this is fine, as they heal from what caused their fear of emotional expression. However, if this is an issue over many months, this can be a cause for concern. Never hesitate to reach out to a counselor, as they can help you get on track for healing and allow yourself to have an emotional connection with others.

3. Past Trauma

Past trauma can cause people not to want to commit. Traumatic events can cause feelings of anxiety, generalized fear, and even symptoms of depression. If a traumatic event happened because of a past romantic partner, it is understandable not to want a relationship in the near future. If the trauma was severe enough, some people could experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Having PTSD can cause someone to be genuinely fearful of relationships or can bring up significant amounts of stress when getting close to someone again. In this case, it is highly recommended and encouraged to seek the services of a licensed counselor.

Experiencing trauma from a past relationship can also result in something called commitment-phobia. As the name suggests, people who have commitment-phobia have unstable emotions and are fearful when it comes to romantic relationships. Some may even manifest fear of dating. The risk of being let down or hurt by someone else is too much to bear, so the person decides to ward off relationships altogether. But what if you really believe that he doesn’t mean it when he says he doesn’t want a relationship? This is another reason someone should go to counseling if they believe they are experiencing these symptoms. You shouldn’t be held back from committing by something treatable. If you want a relationship deep down, but have extreme fear revolving a romantic partnership, you won’t regret seeking help from a counselor.

4. Insecurities And Low Self-Esteem

Having low self-esteem is one of the most common reasons people choose to not get in a relationship. The fear of being rejected is too overwhelming, and they don’t want to take a chance of lowering their self-esteem even more. To be in a committed relationship, you must truly love yourself. You must understand what your partner sees in you so that way you can trust them when they tell you they love you. This is why you commonly hear, “You can’t love others if you don’t love yourself.”

Another way insecurities get in the way of commitment is by causing the person to be fearful of putting themselves out there. Whether this is on a dating website or walking up to someone who you think is attractive, you must have some self-confidence. For someone who struggles with low self-esteem, they may think, “I am never going to make the first move because why would anyone like me," or, "Why can't I find love? Am I not good enough?"These thoughts can get in the way of sparking new relationships.

5. They Don’t See A Need

As mentioned above, some people do not see a need to commit to someone. I'm not attracted to my boyfriend anymore, it's time to stay single again. We live in a modern world, and while in the past it seems like finding someone to marry was expected of people, nowadays it isn’t something that we have to strive for. Every day, more and more people are finding contentment in being single because they love their lives now. This is completely normal and even healthy. If you don’t feel like you need or want a partner, you are justified in that decision.

You may be in a place where you are focused on your career, or you are focusing on bettering yourself. If you are happy, then stay single for as long as you want. Just because a lot of people find someone to marry and commit to doesn’t mean it is for everyone. It shouldn’t be pushed on everyone to marry someone. However, if you are not happy with being single, and there are negative reasons behind not wanting to commit, that is when there is an issue. So, evaluate your mindset and happiness before deciding to stay single.

I Don’t Want A Relationship

Do you find yourself telling others, “I don’t want a relationship”? If so, look at the reasons behind your feelings. If you have come to this decision because of past trauma or trust issues, this may not be the right decision for you. However, if you are content with your life today and aren’t ready to give up your ability to be selfish, feel free to stay single.

If you are in a relationship and you or your partner have decided you no longer want a relationship altogether, it is recommended you two attend couples counseling. A licensed counselor can help you two understand the reasoning behind this and can help you two be sure in your decision.

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