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How to Respond to Ghosting? 31 Examples

It’s no fun to learn that the guy you’ve been texting, dating, and getting along with suddenly drops off the face of the planet and ghosts you. You’re left wondering if he’s not interested anymore and it may make you feel completely ignored and sad. It also shows you his emotional unavailability.

So what to do when a guy ghosts you? In this article, you’ll learn how to respond to a guy that ghosted you. 

Key Takeaways:

  • Take care of yourself if you’ve been ghosted
  • Only respond if you want to open the door to a relationship again
  • People who ghost others are often emotionally immature

How to Deal with Someone Ghosting You?

The best way to deal with a guy that ghosted you is to take care of your own well-being first. This could mean anything from you taking a much-needed yoga class to going for a hike in the woods. Also, it can be helpful to be around the friends who already love and support you.

Don’t take the “ghoster’s” actions personally. People who ghost often don’t have the emotional intelligence to handle conflict or relationships well. Ghosting behavior leads people to distrust them by not communicating. 

It’s also possible that this person isn’t boyfriend material or a good match for you. You’ll probably be happier in the long run to forget him and move on.    

32 Best Ghosting Responses

1. Don’t take it personally

So, how to respond to a guy that ghosted you? First of all, don’t take it personally. Even though it may feel terrible, it truly has nothing to do with you. It’s hard to understand because you probably wouldn’t just stop talking to someone without explanation.

However, some people don’t have the people skills or respect needed to handle relationships maturely. The best thing to do now is to keep being yourself and keep living your life without him. 

2. “I’m no longer interested”

When a guy ghosts you, he may be thinking you won't let him go no matter what. But the truth is, you probably won't be waiting around for someone to communicate and respect your time.

Let him know he can’t just disappear on you and get back into your life without a word whenever he feels like it. You can respond to a guy who ghosts you by saying; “Thanks, but I’m not interested anymore.”

3. “What happened?”

You can always ask what happened to him if he texts you something completely unrelated several weeks later.

It doesn’t matter if you were both in a relationship, or you were about to start dating. Listen to his explanation. People typically don’t just disappear without a text or a valid reason.

Take your time to hear what he has to say, whether it sounds logical or not. After you hear him out, you can decide if you want to give him a second chance or not. 

4. Be happy that he disappeared

You were most likely hurt, confused, and angry when he stopped responding to your text messages or talking to you when you thought things were going so well. However, you can be grateful that he lost interest because you dodged a bullet

He sent you a clear message that he is not the kind of man you want to be with anyway. Now you get the opportunity to date guys who are able to show up and be there for you. 

5. Have faith in yourself

When someone who you thought you’d have a long romantic relationship with ghosts you, it feels awful. But, don’t let this guy hijack your confidence in yourself

Remember that you have a lot to offer this world. It’s sad that he couldn’t see it, but the most important thing is for you to return to what brings you happiness and joy. You deserve to find someone who wants to be with you and who can show up for you. 

6. “Nice to hear from you again”

You could say this after he has explained why he disappeared into thin air. It’s a way to say you have no regret to have dated him back then, and you’re glad to hear from him again. So, it keeps an open option for both of you to either continue where you stopped or part ways.

At the same time, it could be your way of letting him know you're moving on, but you’re not angry at him anymore.

7. Tell him how you feel about his actions

Sometimes people are unaware of how their actions could make others feel. The truth is, he may have noticed you had feelings for him when he just wanted to be a good friend. It could be that, or he may have been afraid of how things would turn out.

Whatever the case is, let him know how you truly felt when he suddenly left. Did you feel sad, empty, used, or depressed? Tell him that. If possible, guide him on what to do when next he finds himself in a similar situation. 

8. “I’m happy you’re happy”

“I’m happy you’re happy” is something to say to him if he returns and sounds happy. 

But, if you want to keep seeing this person in the future it’s important to tell him how his disappearance made you feel. 

It’s okay to ask for an explanation to find out what his intentions are with you moving forward. If he can’t communicate with you, there’s no reason to keep dating or being friends.

9. Be patient

Woman checking her phone

It’s super tough to be patient when you really like someone, but instead of texting him constantly, pause. Allow him to contact you first. Give yourself and him some time and space to process what’s going on. 

Use this tool to check whether he actually is who he says he is
Whether you're married or have just started seeing someone, infidelity rates are on the rise and have increased over 40% in the last 20 years, so you have all the right to be worried.

Perhaps you want to know if he's texting other women behind your back? Or whether he has active Tinder or dating profile? Or worse yet, whether he has a criminal record or is cheating on you?

This tool will do just that and pull up any hidden social media and dating profiles, photos, criminal records, and much more to hopefully help put your doubts to rest.

The guy that ghosted you may have a ton going on in his life right now and wasn’t able to respond with a proper explanation. Perhaps he never messages you again, but at least you know that it’s not worth your time. Use your good sense, let him go, and keep living your life. 

Remember that there are millions of men out there. Be patient. You will find a guy who communicates and respects you. 

10 Show him your worth

If he ghosted you and then came back a few weeks later saying, "How's it going?" show him your worth. Be very clear that you don't like being ignored for weeks. If you both decide you want a relationship again, it's important that you both communicate and let each other know what's going on. 

11. “I didn’t expect that from you”

It takes time to know a guy, trust him, and build your world around him. It doesn’t matter if he’s a platonic friend or you both want to date. Of course, people can be unpredictable, but there are certain people you can be sure won’t disappoint you.

When he ghosts you and comes back, he may not have understood it that way, which is why he may have ghosted you. 

But, if he returns, let him know it hurts you. Help him to understand how you felt when he left you hanging. 

12. Ask how he’s been while he was away

It may not be that easy to ignore someone you were involved with but didn’t have closure. You may have moved on during the period he was away, but it will be different if he comes back. Those feelings may find their way back to your heart.

It’s okay to still have feelings for a guy who decided to ghost you. So, you could ask him general questions about his life. Even if you’re no longer interested in dating him, it’s not a big deal to be friendly with someone you once liked. If you wish, you could also tell him a little about your life.

13. “How do you expect me to react?”

Some guys may expect you to accept them immediately when they come back to message. 

You can share with him the scenario from your perspective, and ask him how he’d react if he was in your shoes. That way, he’ll understand how it feels to date someone you like, and be ghosted without a heads up. 

14. Be clear about what you want if he comes back

It’s very important to ask a guy or confirm your relationship with him after he gets back from his ghosting mode. You don’t want to hope for something that may not work out, just the way it didn’t in the past. 

Call, message, or organize a hangout with him, to discuss the way forward. It may sound unnecessary at the moment, but it will help reduce any hurt in the future. You both don’t need to get back together, you could become good friends or potential business partners. If he’s someone you’d like to keep around, this is one good way to go about it.

15. “I felt disrespected when you disappeared”

If you had gone far with him, like a committed relationship, it’s best to tell him how he made you feel when he decided to disappear. This statement shows him how honest you were when you both shared good moments. You don’t need to say much after making this statement. 

It may help him understand the implication of what he did. That way, he knows you had much respect for him when you were dating. As direct as it may seem, this is one way you respond to a guy who ghosted you. 

16. Avoid blaming yourself

You can't make someone love you or treat you well, but just because someone doesn't want to be with you doesn't mean that you’re undesirable. 

Don't allow a guy's crappy behavior to ruin your self-confidence. No one likes being rejected, but it's a sign that you’re not a good match. Now you get to find someone who appreciates you for who you are. 

17. Talk to him as an ordinary person

If he returns and texts you on a random day, you can choose to talk to him as if he never left. You can be friendly, but don’t expect him to be more mature and want a relationship now. 

Let him be the one to share why he disappeared, but he may not. If he never says anything, it’s probably a good idea to just move on. 

18. Keep meeting new people

Starting to date

After being ghosted, it’s possible you’ll want to isolate and disappear. Do feel your feelings if you’re sad, but don’t get stuck in a rut for too long. Go out and make some new friends and meet new people. It will help you to feel less alone and make you realize that the guy who ghosted you is only one person.

You’ll start to feel more confident about yourself and attract a partner who loves you just as you are. A guy who plays games isn’t worth it anyway.

19. “I need some time to think”

When things like this happen, you may need some time to think clearly. You don’t want to react in a way you shouldn’t. So, if you can, ask him to give you some space and time to think about having a casual relationship with him again. This means he shouldn’t call or text until you reach out to him.

Whether you both plan to date or remain friends. It’s hard to get used to a guy that ghosted you. As a human, you need time to process certain things and decide on the way you want to handle them. So, take your time to do so.

20. “I’m not sure I want us to communicate the way we used to”

You’ll always have guys that like you enough to date you. If a guy ghosts you, comes back, you’re thinking of dating someone else, and you know it will affect you, tell him to stay off. That way it affects him just like it affected you when he left. It’s not revenge, but clarity.

You could also say this if you’re already in a relationship. It’s a good way to create boundaries, so it doesn’t affect you in any way. Tell him you could be acquaintances or friends and nothing more. 

21. Don't panic

When responding to ghosting, don't panic. There are a million reasons why someone may have ghosted you. They may not be ready to commit to a relationship and they may be emotionally immature. 

Take a deep breath and reflect on your last interaction with this person. Does something feel off to you? Maybe you realize that this person wasn't being fully honest about something. 

You can ask him for clarity, but if this person can’t give you a valid reason or keeps ignoring you, it's time to end things. 

22. “I haven’t heard from you in a while. I hope you’re okay”

If you think that you and this person had a deeper connection and you’re worried about him, you may want to reach out in a non-aggressive way to see if he’s okay. However, if he still doesn’t respond to your text, let him go. 

23. “When you disappeared, it hurt my feelings”

If you’re a person who forgives people easily, you could say this if he returns. It means you’re not happy with his behavior, but you’re willing to listen to his explanation. You may not trust him yet, but you’ll give him a chance to explain himself and then you can decide what you want to do.

24. “I am getting the sense I’m getting ghosted”

This is something you can say if you want some closure with the guy. You can let him know that you understand if he wants to end things, but that it would be nice if you could have a real conversation about what’s happening. 

Let him know there’s no pressure, but that you will also take no response as a response. And then, move on.

25. Allow yourself to feel your feelings

As much as you want to understand why a guy ghosted you, you may never know his exact reasons. Be extra kind to yourself during this time. Allow yourself to feel angry, sad, and confused. And give yourself some time to grieve and to let go. 

26. Don’t make contact

It’s tempting to keep texting or calling someone who disappeared. It’s confusing, and you’re probably feeling anxious, but let him reach out first. If he wants to talk to you, he knows how to reach you. 

You may feel worse after reaching out because he may still choose to ignore your messages, and then you’ll feel even more rejected. Let him go and focus on yourself for a time.

27. Face the truth

For some unknown reason, the guy that ghosted you made a choice to stop interacting with you. It's vital to accept this truth sooner rather than later. This guy is showing you that he doesn't respect communication with you. 

Don't keep the door open for him to keep coming back. He chose to end things by not talking with you. Do you want to be with someone like that? I’m guessing probably not. 

28. “Tell me if you're not interested”

Angry woman looking at her phone

Sometimes, you wish people could be truthful to you and give you more explanation, instead of doing things without communicating. If you feel this way, you can say this to him. Tell him you would prefer if he had told you he wasn’t ready for a relationship.

29. “Let’s hang out”

You can ask him out for coffee to talk. That’s if you’re uncomfortable discussing or chatting on phone calls.

Make sure you also have enough time to say anything you have to say to him. Physical meetups have a way of clarifying things more than you can ever imagine. But, do this only if you’re fine meeting or seeing him. 

30. “I miss the moments we shared”

If you’re a peaceful person, you could use this statement when he reaches out. Saying this doesn’t mean you’re considering dating him. It only means you valued him and don't have any hard feelings.

You could reminisce about the different moments and the specific thing you loved in each of them. That way, you get to feel good about the past and have him around without any bad thoughts. You also get to make peace with yourself.

31. “Thank you for being there at that time”

It doesn’t have to be all bad. A guy may have ghosted you, but maybe you needed it at that moment. Sometimes, these things happen for people to grow, or learn good lessons. Maybe, if he didn’t ghost you, you wouldn’t have gotten that good job offer.

So, write down the positive things that happened to you after he left unannounced, and thank him for leaving you. You don’t even have to message him directly, just write down what great things happened for you once he left to remind yourself that you’re fine without him

FAQs

How many days is considered ghosting?

Every situation is different, but three days are considered a good amount of time to signal that you’ve been ghosted. Waiting for three days is normal, but anything after that time frame, you should move on and find someone who is respectful of your time and communicates with you.  

What is soft ghosting? 

Soft ghosting is when someone doesn’t disappear completely but continues to like your Facebook posts or reacts to your text messages but doesn’t continue the conversation or try to get to know you more.  

What is half ghosting? 

Half ghosting is when someone sometimes initiates contact, but rarely. Also, they may take a long time to reply to you, give superficial responses, claim to be busy, and lack sincere interest in your life or relationship.  

What type of person does ghosting?

People who ghost others sometimes have a lack of empathy, may be narcissistic, or may be emotionally immature.

Conclusion

It’s normal to feel hurt and confused when a guy you like ghosts you. Did he lose interest? Maybe. But it also indicates that the guy that ghosted you is emotionally immature and may not be worth your time. 

However, if you decide to get back together with the guy who ghosted you make sure he doesn't repeat the same pattern again and be on the same page with him moving forward. 

Refer back to this article whenever you’re looking for the best ghosting responses. And please share this article with someone who may be experiencing ghosting in their life.

Utilize this tool to verify if he's truly who he claims to be
Whether you're married or just started dating someone, infidelity rates have risen by over 40% in the past 20 years, so your concerns are justified.

Do you want to find out if he's texting other women behind your back? Or if he has an active Tinder or dating profile? Or even worse, if he has a criminal record or is cheating on you?

This tool can help by uncovering hidden social media and dating profiles, photos, criminal records, and much more, potentially putting your doubts to rest.

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