In today’s modern age dating, ghosting and breadcrumbing have unfortunately become way too common. If you are unaware of these words or concepts, then we’d say you are lucky. Ghosting is a way of ending a relationship with someone by abruptly stopping all communication and cutting contact without any intimation. Ghosters don’t even give you a hint. It’s almost like one day it’s all going well and the next day, they have vanished, just like a ghost that never existed. If you want to know How to Handle Ghosting, you’re at the right place.
Breadcrumbing is a type of ghosting. It is doing the bare minimum to lead someone on but not enough to commit. It’s when you’re stuck between the “they love me…they love me not” because the signs are so confusing to choose either side. This behavior leaves you wondering if they are serious about you or just passing time. These people give just enough attention and affection to keep you hooked on, but never more than that.
If you have been meeting or talking to someone either online or offline, and they have started messing with you by ghosting or breadcrumbing, then it’s quite evident that they are not really interested in taking things forward and look at the situation as just a pastime. So, what do you do in this situation? Let’s figure it out together.
Accept that this is happening
The first thing you need to do in order to understand How to Handle Ghosting is to take a deep breath and accept that this is really happening. Most people simply don’t believe that they are being ghosted or breadcrumbs. Instead, they keep giving excuses on the ghoster’s part that he/she might be busy, or unavailable at the moment, stuck with some emergency, etc. Stop doing that. If you notice a pattern, understand and accept that they aren’t ready to commit and take things head. This will help to clear your headspace first and ease the process of moving on.
Move on if you’re not dating
If you are not dating, then it should make things easier. Once you accept that you are being ghosted or breadcrumbing is happening, remind yourself of your self-worth and also the fact that waiting for them to act right is a waste of your time. Its best to move on in such circumstances.
If you were dating, send a final message for closure
It’s too unfortunate if you were dating and started facing this situation. To end a relationship, closure is necessary. Send them one final message saying something on the lines of, “Hey, I don’t know what went wrong but can we have one final conversation for closure?”, or “I would really appreciate to have a talk about why this isn’t working out.” If they respond to your request, well and good, but if they don’t, then you have your answer and can consider the silence as your closure to move on.
Block them from everywhere
Ghosters, breadcrumbers are often inconsiderate and selfish. They don’t completely vanish. They appear out of the blue according to their convenience and this often happens when you have just about settled down with acceptance of their absence. To avoid this, it’s best to unfriend and block them from everywhere to ensure they don’t pop back in your life.
Remember that ghosting and breadcrumbing tell you who they are, not who you are. Such people are not worth doubting your own self-worth over. The best way to handle it is to set clear expectations with them and not waiver. Do not let them feel like they have any chance with you. Also, the longer you continue tolerating this behavior, the longer it will persist and might even worsen. Set your boundaries, call out their behavior, remember your worth and know when it is time to move on. Stay safe, everyone!
