Stage 3 - The Break-Up

In the last stage of the relationship, the commitment-phobe begins to behave in ways designed to make you so upset or angry that you will break things off with them. They may find constant fault with you, ignore your needs, spend less and less time with you, or even start seeing other people in the hopes that you will catch them.

Finally breaking up with a commitmentphobe can leave you with reduced levels of self-esteem and you may feel unlovable, rejected, unacceptable or unworthy. You may also feel that you must have done something terribly wrong to kill the strong love that the commitment-phobe so obviously had for you.

However, once you have made the break, a strange thing sometimes happens. Free of the threat of impending commitment, the commitment-phobe will very often try to win you back with huge romantic gestures and promises that they have changed.

It's absolutely crucial that you recognise this behaviour for what it is: simply a return to the first stage. Although it may be very tempting to give in to their promises in the hopes of experiencing their adoration once again, the sad fact is that in the majority of cases, once they have won you back you'll soon be treated to a repeat of the final two stages. So instead of giving in, be brave, make the break and move on to find someone who isn't scared of committing to you.