The Student Room Group

boyfriend not interested in me?

hi all! two month relationship here. me and bf (23/25) met at work and still work together, we started dating three months into knowing each other properly, and it was amazing. the first few weeks we tried to act normal at work to hide it while still flirting, and we met up outside of work on dates!

past month however, we are on opposite shifts and he keeps cancelling plans we make together outside of work. He says he is tired/stressed about things he cant say, and Im worried about it. I am worried about him, i tell him he can confide anything in me and i just want to chill with him to forget his stresses, but would that mean five times now he has cancelled (fairly last minute too) on things we plan.
I feel like im not a priority to him, and I might even add to his stress. Im always the one arranging dates too, he never asks me to go on dates even when he is free.

Its weird because now people at work know they told me they could tell he liked me before we started dating. he always came to me out of his way at work to talk, he started the big convos, he confessed first, he kissed first, he got sexual first. but now im asking for more time with him (I really miss him a lot and just want time together outside work because work isnt the place for flirting!) and hes just denying me. Again, i feel really guilty because he does say hes tired and stressed, but that affects him to the point he doesnt want to meet up with his new girlfriend?
I literally go out of my way for him, Ive come an hour away on my days off to meet him after work just to get time together, and i feel like he doesnt want the same.

Help?? i really love him but i dont want to keep feeling guilty for wanting to meet up and then feeling hurt when he cancels for what could be totally valid reasons...

Reply 1

A boyfriend will show through their actions exactly how they feel about you. If this was occasional it may be different but if this is repeated behaviour again and again, he's not prioritising you. No excuses. It's easy to find them but believe me, if you matter to them enough, they'll make time for you. They certainly won't cancel on you five times last minute and not initiate seeing you. What you really need to ask yourself, is not whether he wants you but whether you want him and to put up with this lack of consideration and transparency. Really all he's giving you us stress and a headache. I'm sure he's said lovely things previously but his actions aren't matching up. How do you feel about what he's giving you (nothing)... Not his potential!? Please prioritise yourself and stop giving your energy to this energy vampire. Focus on all the things that make you happy, whether it's hobbies, friends, family, work, nature, exercise. Matthew Hussey is one of the best dating gurus out there and gives great advice on how to handle this kind of typical guy behaviour! I know many many girls who have been in the exact same position! Good luck. Keep us posted.

Reply 2

He’s not sure what he wants, it’s common. The best chance is to back off

Reply 3

Original post
by Anonymous
hi all! two month relationship here. me and bf (23/25) met at work and still work together, we started dating three months into knowing each other properly, and it was amazing. the first few weeks we tried to act normal at work to hide it while still flirting, and we met up outside of work on dates!
past month however, we are on opposite shifts and he keeps cancelling plans we make together outside of work. He says he is tired/stressed about things he cant say, and Im worried about it. I am worried about him, i tell him he can confide anything in me and i just want to chill with him to forget his stresses, but would that mean five times now he has cancelled (fairly last minute too) on things we plan.
I feel like im not a priority to him, and I might even add to his stress. Im always the one arranging dates too, he never asks me to go on dates even when he is free.
Its weird because now people at work know they told me they could tell he liked me before we started dating. he always came to me out of his way at work to talk, he started the big convos, he confessed first, he kissed first, he got sexual first. but now im asking for more time with him (I really miss him a lot and just want time together outside work because work isnt the place for flirting!) and hes just denying me. Again, i feel really guilty because he does say hes tired and stressed, but that affects him to the point he doesnt want to meet up with his new girlfriend?
I literally go out of my way for him, Ive come an hour away on my days off to meet him after work just to get time together, and i feel like he doesnt want the same.
Help?? i really love him but i dont want to keep feeling guilty for wanting to meet up and then feeling hurt when he cancels for what could be totally valid reasons...

Aww, I feel for you and sorry to hear this. Look, my guess is that there is something causing him severe stress, maybe depression even. What that is is hard to guess, but could be anything such as afraid losing job, drugs, something he has done and regrets doing, could be anything. I would write him a message saying you love him and worry about him and asking whether you can talk about things one evening ?. Don't get too distraught, if things were intended then they will work out in the end. Best can do is make sure he knows you love him and are there for him, and ask him to come and see you (make it that way around) . Just stay positive and focused.

Reply 4

Detach a little and see what happens. This isn't playing games, it's knowing your worth and making sure you're not over investing. I'd send one very casual friendly, sorry you've been stressed recently, here if you need/want to talk message and then leave the ball in his court. Don't make plans to see him or suggest it. He needs to show up for you. If he doesn't, move on. Plenty more fish in the sea and plenty you can do all by yourself to enrich your life.

Reply 5

Original post
by Anonymous
Aww, I feel for you and sorry to hear this. Look, my guess is that there is something causing him severe stress, maybe depression even. What that is is hard to guess, but could be anything such as afraid losing job, drugs, something he has done and regrets doing, could be anything. I would write him a message saying you love him and worry about him and asking whether you can talk about things one evening ?. Don't get too distraught, if things were intended then they will work out in the end. Best can do is make sure he knows you love him and are there for him, and ask him to come and see you (make it that way around) . Just stay positive and focused.

hi thank you for this response, i managed to chat a little on valentines (we worked together but were both so stressed at work) he says theres family/home things going on and he just wants time to himself and to rest. I said how i just feel upset we barely see each other and only see each other at work so its just not romantic lol. Ive asked if he can be more specific and told him how worried I am over his issues and he just said it wont last longer than a month so im hopeful and just need to stick through it. I have a lot on my plate too (uni offers and want to fix my diet) so i hope to just settle my head about all this and then see if he does change if things improve.
It just upsets/confuses me that we cant get an hour/two to just meet up at a bar or cafe, but i just have to ignore that i guess.

Reply 6

Update: thank you for the responses. I dont want to be too negative (aka just break up with him and move on), he said theres home stuff going on and he just needs his days off work to himself. we only see each other at work like once a week now and obviously its not romantic at work though we kiss/hug whenever one of us finishes/starts. but our workplace is stressful so we dont really get chance to chat, which is why i was so insistent to him about meeting up.
Im hoping that in a months time his issues are sorted and we can go back to normal and ill be a priority. i really worry about his issues but ive told him and he just said to let him deal with it.
i recently got an offer from cambridge uni which starts this october, so im going to start studying in my free time and hope that distracts me. i do think whatever hes got going on is his priority atm. this is the first serious relationship ive been in as an adult so i just worry that only two months in and im starting to feel unimportant to him, but he asked me to trust him so for now thats all i can do. i might update in a month or so. thank you guys.

Reply 7

Original post
by Anonymous
Update: thank you for the responses. I dont want to be too negative (aka just break up with him and move on), he said theres home stuff going on and he just needs his days off work to himself. we only see each other at work like once a week now and obviously its not romantic at work though we kiss/hug whenever one of us finishes/starts. but our workplace is stressful so we dont really get chance to chat, which is why i was so insistent to him about meeting up.
Im hoping that in a months time his issues are sorted and we can go back to normal and ill be a priority. i really worry about his issues but ive told him and he just said to let him deal with it.
i recently got an offer from cambridge uni which starts this october, so im going to start studying in my free time and hope that distracts me. i do think whatever hes got going on is his priority atm. this is the first serious relationship ive been in as an adult so i just worry that only two months in and im starting to feel unimportant to him, but he asked me to trust him so for now thats all i can do. i might update in a month or so. thank you guys.

Ah well good luck, as I say if it is intended to work out for your two then it will. It hard sometimes, but if you just think of it as a holiday from him, then wont be as bad. Infact I did same recently for 2 months and was hard but got through it OK.

Reply 8

Original post
by Anonymous
Update: thank you for the responses. I dont want to be too negative (aka just break up with him and move on), he said theres home stuff going on and he just needs his days off work to himself. we only see each other at work like once a week now and obviously its not romantic at work though we kiss/hug whenever one of us finishes/starts. but our workplace is stressful so we dont really get chance to chat, which is why i was so insistent to him about meeting up.
Im hoping that in a months time his issues are sorted and we can go back to normal and ill be a priority. i really worry about his issues but ive told him and he just said to let him deal with it.
i recently got an offer from cambridge uni which starts this october, so im going to start studying in my free time and hope that distracts me. i do think whatever hes got going on is his priority atm. this is the first serious relationship ive been in as an adult so i just worry that only two months in and im starting to feel unimportant to him, but he asked me to trust him so for now thats all i can do. i might update in a month or so. thank you guys.

Oh and by the way, on the "if it is intended to work it will work". Just to show you that in action, look up out of interest on Google "the full story of the romance between Emannuel Macron and Brigitte Macron (he was school boy she was his teacher) . They had a break for years ,then got back together as they both knew they loved each other despite 40 year age gap, and they look really happy even now many years later. So it shows such breaks do not mean "the end" !!

Reply 9

Corrections: It is actually Emmanuel Macron and there was only a 25 year age gap so not too much at all. A real true love story.

Reply 10

By the way,may I ask what you will be studying at Cambridge ?.

Reply 11

Original post
by Anonymous
Oh and by the way, on the "if it is intended to work it will work". Just to show you that in action, look up out of interest on Google "the full story of the romance between Emannuel Macron and Brigitte Macron (he was school boy she was his teacher) . They had a break for years ,then got back together as they both knew they loved each other despite 40 year age gap, and they look really happy even now many years later. So it shows such breaks do not mean "the end" !!

again thanks for the advice, its not really a break as we text daily, but i think ive been able to settle a little more now that we had a chat about things, will be seeing him. tmorrow at work so hopefully wont feel awkward. and ah, idk how that story relates to my situation tbh but i see.

Quick Reply

How The Student Room is moderated

To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.