{"id":40425,"date":"2023-07-30T19:54:03","date_gmt":"2023-07-30T19:54:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplypsychology.org\/?p=40425"},"modified":"2024-01-22T13:25:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T13:25:48","slug":"how-does-the-ghoster-feel-after-ghosting-someone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simplypsychology.org\/how-does-the-ghoster-feel-after-ghosting-someone.html","title":{"rendered":"How Does the Ghoster Feel After Ghosting Someone?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ghosting<\/a> refers to the act of abruptly cutting off all communication with someone without any explanation or warning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individual feelings and reactions can vary widely after ghosting someone<\/a> based on a number of factors, including the person’s personality, the nature of the relationship, their reasons for ghosting, and their overall emotional state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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People have their own unique emotional responses, so while some might feel guilty, anxious, or regretful, others might not experience those emotions to the same degree or at all.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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The lack of closure and sudden disconnection resulting from ghosting can lead to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and confusion for both the person who was ghosted and the person who initiated the ghosting.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Guilt, Shame, and Remorse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many people who have ghosted someone may feel a sense of guilt, shame, or remorse for abruptly ending a relationship without explanation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People who engage in ghosting often do so because they feel a strong need to avoid confrontation, uncomfortable conversations, or potential conflicts. This desire to avoid these difficult interactions can sometimes lead them to cut off communication abruptly, even though they might not intend to cause suffering to the other person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upon reflection, they might recognize that their actions have hurt the other persons and imagine how their sudden disappearance and lack of closure affected them emotionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They may feel guilty, anxious, and ashamed for cutting off contact with another person so abruptly and might come to regret their decision as they understand that their actions prevented the opportunity for closure or honest communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“Because you’re basically just leaving someone on the-on the edge of the cliff\u2026the other person deserves to know why you’re choosing to cut them off out of your life\u2026if you don’t then the other person is just going to keep wondering their whole life like, \u2018What did I do wrong, is something wrong with me?\u2019 And the other person will be afraid to let another person in their life because they’re afraid that-that will happen again.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

However, despite feeling these emotions, many ghosters might still find it difficult to initiate contact and provide an explanation or closure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fear of potential conflict, negative reactions, or having to confront their own reasons for ghosting can contribute to their inability to respond. This is particularly true for those with people-pleasing tendencies<\/a> or avoidant attachment styles.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, some ghosters may develop a sense of empathy as they reflect on how their actions affected the other person. This empathy might lead them to apologize or attempt to make amends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Relief<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, a ghoster might feel relief from avoiding a difficult conversation or uncomfortable confrontation. Ghosting can provide individuals with a temporary sense of escaping responsibility as they don’t have to explain their reasons or face potential pushback for leaving a relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In circumstances where someone is in an abusive or toxic relationship<\/a>, choosing to end the relationship through ghosting can also lead to feelings of relief and liberation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghosting can provide a way to immediately remove themselves from the harmful situation without having to engage in a potentially dangerous confrontation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By abruptly ending communication, a person can create an immediate emotional distance from the situation (whether abusive or not). This emotional disconnect might lead to a sense of relief, especially if they were feeling overwhelmed, pressured, or unhappy in the relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Pride, Satisfaction, and Triumph<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some individuals, specifically those with narcissistic tendencies, may experience a sense of pride, satisfaction, and triumph after ghosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghosting can be a power-play<\/a> as people might feel empowered by making the decision to end communication on their terms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People might feel a sense of satisfaction and pride from asserting their independence and autonomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similar to what was mentioned earlier, if the relationship was toxic, abusive, or simply not working, the act of ghosting might lead to feelings of relief, pride, and satisfaction as it can be seen as a way of prioritizing one’s own well-being and breaking free from someone’s influence or control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Lack of Emotion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some individuals might experience emotional detachment after ghosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These people might naturally have a greater emotional distance in their interactions, so for them, ending a relationship might not trigger intense feelings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, if the person initiating the ghosting didn’t feel a deep emotional investment in the specific relationship or friendship, they might not experience strong emotions after ending it abruptly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some ghosters might also rationalize their behavior by convincing themselves that ghosting was the best option or that the relationship wasn’t significant enough to warrant strong emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long-term Repercussions of Ghosting for the Ghoster<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Ghosting can have various long-term repercussions for the person who initiates it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n