21 Surprising Ways A Man Feel When A Woman Walks Away (2024)

How does a man feel when a woman walks away? Let’s face it; breakups are hard. Even when you’re the one who initiated the breakup, it’s not easy to say goodbye to someone you once loved. 

Sometimes breakups are mutual. That can occur when a relationship has run its course, so both partners decide it’s best to move forward without each other. And as much as it’s sad to let your significant other go, sometimes it’s for the best. 

But what if a breakup is one-sided? What happens when a woman walks away from a man? How does a man feel when a woman walks away? 

That’s what we’re going to talk about in this article. So, if you want to understand how a man might feel after a breakup, this blog post is for you.

Let’s dive in.

How Does a Man Feel When a Woman Walks Away

So, how does a man feel when a woman walks away? Here are the 21 most common ways.

1. He may start questioning everything

When a woman leaves a relationship, that can be hard for a man, especially if it seems like a sudden decision. 

Of course, nobody leaves their partner without thinking it through, but sometimes, it may feel like a rush and sudden move to a man. 

So how does a man feel when a woman walks away? One of the most common ways is to begin questioning everything. 

He may start doubting everything about the relationship. Has she found someone better? Has she stopped loving me? Have I done something to rub her off the wrong way? These are some of the questions he may ask himself after a breakup. 

2. He may become depressed

Breakups are sad and emotional. When a woman walks away, it can have a serious impact on a man’s mental health. He could become depressed. He could lose his sense of value. It’s never easy to lose someone you love, especially if it’s a high-value woman that you appreciate and respect. 

When a man starts having these negative emotions, it’s best to reach out to a professional relationship coach or seek help from highly trained relationship coaches. After a few sessions, he’ll start feeling better.

3. He may be confused

How Does A Man Feel When A Woman Walks Away
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A man may also feel confused after a woman walks away. This is mostly because the couple never found a way to communicate their thoughts and feelings. 

Having negative emotions from time to time is completely normal in relationships, but if you allow them to pile up, they will eventually consume you. 

So, it’s important to communicate your worries straight away, even if it’s just a few minutes. If you can’t do it yourself, find a certified relationship coach who will guide you and help you recover.

When there’s no mutual understanding and commitment, a relationship can fall apart. A strong and independent woman may decide to leave because she’s not being treated well. So when this happens, her man might feel totally confused by this decision. 

4. He might try to win you back

How does a man feel when a woman walks away? Another way a man copes with a breakup is by not coping with it all. 

This means he’ll go all the way to try and win his woman back. He might start showering her with gifts and attention. He may start changing all of his toxic habits and try to become a better version of himself. 

He may act like his happiness depends on you. But he may also be pretending to have changed. That’s why most women never come back to their partners once they leave. They’re usually done and through.

5. It may take a toll on his mental health

A man will usually hide his true feelings after a breakup, especially when a woman walks away. But don’t think that he’s over it just because he looks cold and distant. 

He actually may be going through a whirlwind of negative feelings on the inside. But this is not a healthy coping mechanism. It eventually leads to anxiety and, worst case scenario, depression. It’s always better to let the true feelings out and not let them consume you. 

6. He may fall in love even more

One of the most common scenarios after a breakup is that one person falls in love even more with the other one. So if it’s the woman walking away, then the man might go start going through a tough patch. 

He’ll yearn for his own relationship and start idealizing the woman. It’s a tale as old as time; you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. And this is exactly how it happens in real life and in intimate relationships. 

7. He might get clingy

When an independent woman walks away from a relationship, a man may get attached even more to her. He will begin idealizing her and chasing her. 

He’ll seem lost without her. This clingy behavior is a common way for a man to deal with a breakup, especially if he wasn’t the one to walk away.

8. He may obsess over you

Another way to cope with a woman walking away is to indulge in obsessive behavior. He’ll yearn for love, as mentioned earlier. He’ll obsess over his woman and put her on a pedestal. 

He may seem like he’d do anything to win her back at this point. As a matter of fact, he’ll believe it himself when he says he’ll change. 

But that’s just human psychology 101. The chances are he won’t ever change, so it’s just a matter of either accepting him for who he is or walking away.

9. He may idolize you and think of you as a high-value woman

Putting someone on a pedestal is a common phenomenon in romantic relationships. And it usually happens after a partner walks away from you because walking away creates attraction. 

So, when a woman is the one walking away, a man may start idolizing her. He may feel lost without her and like his life is empty without her in his life. But this is not healthy for either of them.

If your want ex acts as if he wants you and only you in his life, he may be idolizing you and putting you on a pedestal.  

10. His self-esteem could go downhill

Being dumped is never easy, especially after a long relationship. When a woman leaves a relationship, a man might start doubting himself and thinking he’s below her. 

He’ll feel guilty for losing the best thing that ever happened to him, which can lead to self-pity and self-destruction. This can seriously hurt his self-esteem and make him feel like a nobody.  

11. He might send you mixed signals

Some men will be completely lost after a breakup, so they may send you mixed signals. They won’t quite know what to do. A man might try to move and think he’s doing well without you. But then he may feel stuck and nostalgic about your relationship. 

That’s when he may decide to text you just to tell you how much he misses you. He may decide to block you on social media but continue to drunk dial you to tell you he loves you.

12. He might feel scared to get into a relationship

Ways A Man Feels When A Woman Walks Away
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A man in love with his ex will find it hard to get into a new relationship, especially if he isn’t the one who initiated the breakup. That’s because he may be scared of starting fresh. He may be afraid of getting hurt all over again. 

Relationships are deeply intimate and emotional. That’s why it’s so scary to get attached to someone else after a long relationship.

13. He may feel guilty

If you left him because he didn’t want to commit to you or he didn’t want anything serious, he feels guilty now. When he realized that you were not kidding when you said you’d leave him, he was ready to admit he was wrong. 

His guilt may overwhelm him, so he’ll try to win you back at any cost. Now it’s up to you to decide whether you want him in your life or not. In other words, the ball is in your court right now. 

14. He might be in denial

You left him because he wasn’t giving you what you needed and deserved. You told him you never want to see him again, but he still doesn’t listen to you. He seems to not understand that you’re serious about walking away. It just means he’s in denial. 

This is one of the ways men cope with breakups. They can’t handle the emotional pain, so they decide to deny it. It might be best for him to talk to a professional coach or seek mental health support.

15. He may feel anger

You left him because he didn’t want to open up to you. He prioritized his career and everything else in life over you. You had an unhealthy relationship, and you’re the one who ended it. But now that you’re gone, your man feels angry. 

He may have some unresolved anger issues from the past or is not able to break free from his toxic patterns. 

You try to move on, but he just won’t let you. Your success speaks volumes, and he’s not okay with that. It’s time he gets professional help because this is not a way to get a woman back. 

16. His ego might be hurt

Nobody is made out of stone, and neither are men. As much as they try to put a tough boy act, they’re just as emotional and gentle as women are. So, when you walk away from a man, you might bruise his ego and hurt his self-respect. 

He may start questioning his self-worth and feel angry that you left him. He might feel rejected and, as a result, act irrationally. Many guys will feel inferior when they can’t make a relationship succeed. 

Everyone’s different, so it’s important to talk things through so that both sides understand that it’s time for new relationships.  

17. He might accept this new reality

Everyone’s personal experience is different, but some guys will be mature about breakups. 

So don’t be surprised that your ex might accept this new harsh reality and realize that you’re both better off. He may realize that you had a bad relationship and that it’s time to start something new. 

18. He might try to find a rebound relationship

How does a man feel when a woman walks away? Some men will jump from one partner to another without ever settling down and processing their emotions. 

Your ex might feel depressed, so he might try to find a rebound to soothe his pain. He’ll miss you so much that he wouldn’t have the capacity to process those feelings. 

The easiest way to cope is to start a new relationship, but unfortunately, this is a short-term solution. 

Another reason why he might rush into a new fling is to make you feel jealous. When a man realizes what he’s lost, his emotions may cloud his judgment. That’s why he may make some immature decisions to get you back.

19. He feels lonely

When you break up with someone, it’s normal to miss everything about them. From small everyday moments to special romantic moments, a breakup can make you feel desperate. 

So when a woman walks away, it’s usually the man who may feel lonely and feel sad. 

He may realize his mistakes and try to make things right with you. He may also find it hard to live without you. He may not like to be alone all the time. These are all natural feelings to have after a breakup.

20. He might try to prove himself to you

When a woman walks away, a man may feel motivated to try to prove his worth to her. Because he might feel inferior, he may go above and beyond to show off. 

If you recently broke up with your boyfriend, you might quickly notice how his social media posts start changing. He may start going out more and dressing up to show off his new abs. Or he may flaunt his new rebound girlfriend just to prove himself to you.

21. He might try to move on

If your breakup was fairly mutual, he may be able to move on easily. He might either be happy with his newly single status. 

He also may have already found a new relationship. As long as you’re both happy with the new situation, it’s all good. Now you can both find someone who will accept you for who you are and love you just the way you are shaped.

Related reading: 21 Signs To Know When To Walk Away After Infidelity

How Do Men React When You Walk Away?

Everyone is different. Not every man will react the same way when a woman walks away from them. Some men will find it hard to accept the new situation. They will do anything in their power to keep you. 

Depending on their personality, some men will get angry at you for leaving them. They might try to hurt you back with insults and toxic behavior. They might try to purposely find a new girlfriend just to spite you. 

But not all men are the same. Some men will be more mature about it. They will accept the fact that you’re no longer happy with each other, and they will try to move on. It might not be easy on them, but they will do everything in their power to stay strong. 

Breakups are tough. And it’s never easy to let those feelings out straight away. It’s completely natural that some people act immature at first. But it doesn’t mean they won’t come to terms with it and realize that it’s all for the better.

Does Walking Away Creates Respect?

When A Woman Walks Away
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When you’re feeling unappreciated or invisible in your relationship, it’s time to do some self-reflection. Try to find a relationship coach or a relationship hero if you want someone to be genuinely helpful and give you tailor-made advice. 

But if you’ve done everything in your power to fix things between you and your partner, and he’s still treating you poorly, it’s time for a change. It’s time you take control and consider walking away. 

Walking away from a toxic relationship is a power move, to say the least. It puts you in control, and you get to set the terms. It definitely creates respect because it shows that you have high self-worth and won’t let anyone treat you poorly. 

Even though your partner will respect you even more for taking control of your life, it doesn’t mean they will agree to your terms. They have equal rights to choose their happiness, so be prepared that they might not want to stay with you.

If you decide to walk away, make sure you’re completely certain of your decision. Don’t do it just to earn your man respect. Do it because it’s the right thing for you. Your life, your choice.

Related reading: 11 Powerful Signs – Walking Away When He Won’t Commit

Does Walking Away Raise Your Value?

Walking away from a bad relationship is never easy on anybody. So when a woman decides to live for good, it’s very empowering. She becomes unpredictable and powerful. Walking away raises her value and makes her feel fearless.

It shows her ex-boyfriend that she knows her worth and is not afraid to walk away when she’s unappreciated. It’s attractive and respectful.

When you walk away from a man, you create strong personal boundaries and show him how you wish to be treated. You don’t want to feel miserable and unvalued. Quite the opposite; you come off as strong and independent. And that definitely increases your perceived value. 

What Does It Mean When You Walk Away From a Relationship?

Walking Away Is Powerful
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Relationships are deeply intimate and romantic. But they require work and commitment. It takes two to tango, so if you want to make it work, you can’t do it all by yourself. 

When a relationship has run its course, people may feel scared to let go. They may be scared to walk away because they don’t know what’s waiting for them on the other side. 

But some people don’t want to be in unhappy relationships. They want to have the whole package, and if that means they have to walk away from their partner, so be it. 

Walking away is a sign you’re done. It means you’ve tried your best to make your relationship work, but you just can’t seem to meet halfway. And that’s okay! That’s life.

Sometimes in life, you have to let go of the people that are not right for you. You need to let them go to make a place for new people that will truly make you happy.

If you ever need any advice, specific help, or professional guidance to help you go through this tough patch, you can reach out to me, and I’ll be happy to help.

Final Thoughts

Thanks for taking the time to read my article. I hope you found it helpful and that you understand how a man feels when a woman walks away.

Everyone is different. Some men will act irrationally and get angry at you for leaving them behind. But other men will understand your side of the story and accept this new reality.

Remember that life is an emotional rollercoaster. We fall in and out of love. But at the end of the day, you’re the one who decides whether a relationship works for you or not. Nobody else but you can know how you feel.

So, don’t disregard your emotions. If you’re unhappy, don’t be scared to walk away. Life is short, so make it count.

And if a man can’t cope with your mature decision to walk away, then you’re certain you’ve made the right call. That man is not the one for you.

If I can help you in any way, don’t hesitate to ask. I’d be happy to provide some specific advice on relationships and breakups. Also, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below; I hope I hear from you soon!

About The Author

Bijan Kholghi is a certified life coach with the Milton Erickson Institute Heidelberg (Germany). He helps clients and couples reach breakthroughs in their lives by changing subconscious patterns. His solution-oriented approach is based on Systemic- and Hypnotherapy.

Bijan