Breakups are a challenging experience regardless of whether you are leaving or being left. After a relationship breaks down, several feelings can crop up, from sadness to loneliness, anger, and more. But how does a man feel when a woman walks away?

If you have recently broken up or are in the process of doing so, you might be curious how your significant other will react. Will he be sad and miss you that you are gone? Or will he realize what a good catch you were and try to win you back?

How does a man feel when a woman walks away?

Many things happen when a woman leaves a man. Depending on his love and trust in her, he may experience physical stress and emotional pain. Below is a list of feelings a man might have when a woman walks away from a relationship.

1. He may feel lonely

Loneliness is one of the most common feelings after a breakup, and most men will experience this when you leave. Leaving is not just physical – it is also emotional. Therefore, the physical and emotional loss of a significant other is bound to cause some loneliness.

Another reason for loneliness is the loss of friends and family members. Losing touch with family and friends close to one’s significant other is common when a relationship falls apart. Therefore, this separation can add to the feeling of loneliness, especially if you are married marriage or in a long-term relationship.

2. He may be confused

Confusion is another feeling a man might may feel after you walk away. The sense of confusion is especially common if the breakup is sudden or they do not see it coming. Therefore, he might be left wondering what he did wrong to cause you to leave.

The loss of a relationship can also bring about confusion. As already stated, leaving is both physical and emotional. And for couples who have been together for a long time, the act of leaving can bring about confusion, especially about one’s self-identity.A man clinging to a woman's leg. Photo: @grenar Source: UGC

3. He might regret his decisions

How does a man feel when a good woman walks away? Regret is another common reaction. Many men will regret when you walk away and might start wondering what they could have done differently to make you stay. They might also regret not trying hard enough to keep the relationship alive.

4. He might miss you

Do guys miss you when you walk away? Missing an ex is very common after a breakup, and most men are likely to have this feeling when you walk away from them.

They could miss you for several reasons, from loneliness to craving the comfort the relationship offered them. They could also miss you after remembering a joyful moment, such as a vacation together, a regular date spot, or where you met for the first time.

5. He may feel sad and rejected

Sadness and rejection are two other common feelings a man might have when you walk away from them. The sadness comes from the sense of loss, which is common after a breakup. However, when you are the one leaving, their sadness can be accompanied by a feeling of rejection and abandonment.

6. He might become obsessive

Some men might become obsessed when you walk away from a relationship. The obsession is usually triggered due to rejection and failure to accept the breakup.

They might constantly wonder what you are doing, who you are doing it with, and if you have moved on from them. Unfortunately, obsession can spiral into negative behaviours such as stalking on social media or physically.

7. He might respect you more

Is walking away powerful? Yes, it can be. Walking away from a man who doesn’t value you shows respect for yourself. It can also get your man to respect you more. Most men will start to appreciate and respect you if they see that you are willing to walk away from them.

8. He may be angry

Anger is common after any breakup and is considered part of the seven stages of the grieving (of a relationship) process. Therefore, many men are likely to feel angry when you walk away. The anger can present itself in many ways, feeling angry about the breakup, themselves, or at you for leaving.

9. He might be in denial

What does a man feel when a woman walks away? Denial is another potential feeling some men might experience after you leave them. It is a self-defence mechanism and one of the initial stages of grief, brought by the shock of the bad news. With denial, your ex will find themselves in disbelief that the relationship is over and that you are leaving them.

10. He might show disinterest

No one likes being dumped in a relationship, and for some men, leaving can hurt their ego. Therefore, to protect themselves, they might show disinterest and act as if the relationship (and you walking away) doesn’t mean much.

Some men might also show disinterest as a way of getting back at you and hurting your feelings for leaving them, especially if you were invested in the relationship.

11. He might become depressed

What does walking away do to a man? Depression is a possible outcome for some men after leaving them. Your ex can experience several negative feelings after you leave him. These feelings, if not addressed, can fester and trigger other mental health issues, such as depression.

12. He might be scared of future relationships

A breakup can cause deep emotional scars, which can be long-term. After leaving your ex, he might be scared of getting into any new relationship. This is especially common if they suffer from a fear of abandonment or have been in a similar situation. Unfortunately, this can also leave them unable to move on, resulting in feelings of possessiveness and obsession, especially if you have met someone new.

13. He may become more attracted to you

Does walking away from a man create attraction? Yes, it is possible. Walking away from your ex creates a physical and emotional distance. Consequently, they may value you more, and the time you spent together, increasing feelings of attraction and longing for you.

14. He might try to win you back

A man will not let a good woman walk away, or most men won’t. Therefore, your ex might come to his senses after you walk away and realize how much you mean to him. Consequently, they will try to win you back and get together again.

However, some men might have different reasons for getting back together with you. For example, they might miss the familiarity of your old relationship, might be jealous of your new lover, or miss being in a relationship. For others, getting you back could be a way of dealing with the rejection they felt when you walked away.

15. He might move on

Acceptance and moving on are other possible reactions from your ex after you walk away. This can happen for several reasons, for example, if they were not in love with you, if they have found someone else, or are happy being single. Moving on is also a healthy and mature way of dealing with a breakup, especially after your ex accepts that you can’t get back together.

Breakups are hard for everyone. How does a man feel when a woman walks away? He will likely experience varying feelings, ranging from loneliness to sadness, regret, and guilt. However, some men might take breakups harder, leading to adverse reactions such as depression, obsession, and possessiveness.

Tuko.co.ke shared an article about girlfriend duties in a relationship. People fall in love and enter into relationships for different reasons. For instance, men date to gain stability in a healthy relationship. But, also, men do it for love and companionship.

Relationships come with different expectations for both the man and the woman. However, knowing what a man expects from you takes little effort and time since most men are straightforward. Therefore, it is up to you to study your partner and understand what he expects of you.