You Might Be A 'Burned-Out Pursuer' In Your Relationship. Here's What That Means.

"A burned-out pursuer is someone who has spent a long time trying to create closeness, communication or change in a relationship and eventually becomes emotionally exhausted, shuts down and begins to give up."

"They are often the anxious partner in the relationship and view themselves as the one 'fighting for the relationship,' but when they burn out they become apathetic and detached."

"And 'burned out pursuer' specifically identifies the dangerous transition from the anxious seeking of closeness and connection to a state of detachment. The pursuer is now also withdrawn and has essentially given up on getting their needs met by the partner."

A burned-out pursuer emerges from the pursuer-withdrawer dynamic identified in attachment theory research. This pattern occurs when one partner persistently attempts to create closeness and communication while the other withdraws or distances themselves. After prolonged emotional exhaustion from unmet efforts to connect and feel valued, the pursuing partner transitions from anxious seeking to detachment and apathy. They stop believing their efforts matter because they cannot reach their withdrawing partner. This dangerous shift represents a critical relationship deterioration point where the pursuer abandons hope of having their needs met, fundamentally altering the relationship's trajectory.

Read at HuffPost