Someone once said hate is better than indifference because at least, with the former, some emotions are still involved.
And I’m inclined to agree.
Of course, I don’t want anybody to hate me, much less my partner, but I also don’t want them to be indifferent towards me.
I just started with that to let you know how serious indifference is in a relationship or marriage.
That means being able to identify if your partner is being indifferent towards you is vital to the health of your relationship.
It is not safe to be unaware, especially if you love your partner and want to be with them.
So, to help you, I have here signs to watch out for that point of indifference in a relationship.
That way, you can quickly identify it and seek redress if possible.
8 Signs Your Partner Is Indifferent to You
1. They no longer show interest in your day or feelings
One of the major signs of indifference is when your partner seems to have lost interest in your life.
And it is not even only about significant issues like your career or dreams, it could also be about supposedly trivial things like your day or how you feel.
If your partner is not curious about all these, it’s a clear sign they’re becoming indifferent.
When someone cares about you, they will naturally want to stay connected to what’s happening in your world.
So, emotional distance is a clear sign of indifference.
If they’ve stopped asking questions, stopped listening closely, and stopped reacting to your experiences, they’ve likely detached from the relationship.
It’s because they no longer feel the need to be emotionally involved.
That quiet withdrawal is one of the strongest signs that their care for you is fading.
2. Conversations feel forced or one-sided
When someone is indifferent, they will struggle to communicate with their partner.
It takes having an interest in someone to want to talk to them; that’s why, when they stop talking to you, it’s clear they’ve lost interest.
You will notice they don’t initiate meaningful talks, and when you try, they respond with monosyllabic answers.
Someone giving you “yes”, “no”, “alright”, and “okay”, among others, is proving that they’re no longer emotionally present in the relationship.
When someone stops wanting to connect through words, it’s because their feelings have already started fading.
3. They stop making an effort to spend time with you
When your partner no longer tries to create moments with you, it’s a strong sign of indifference.
Wanting to spend time with someone is the most precise measure of care.
A person who still values you will look for ways to be around you, even on busy days.
But when they are indifferent, all you will have are excuses, cancellations, or constant distractions when you’re together.
It’s because you are no longer a priority, or your presence no longer excites or fulfills them the way it once did.
4. Physical affection becomes rare or non-existent
When your partner stops touching you, that can be a sign of indifference.
Now, let me put a caveat to it.
If you are both religious and are in a relationship, you may also be avoiding physical touch because you’re celibate.
While some might still hold hands and hug, some might even avoid those things altogether.
Now, of course, if this isn’t you, it might sound strange.
But in the spirit of not mocking what we don’t understand and inclusiveness, I needed to add that to show that if this is you, this might not apply to you.
Married people, of course, don’t have this problem, as well as couples who are not celibate.
Basically, the way to look at it is to watch out for whether whatever physical intimacy that you both agreed on in your relationship is now non-existent.
So, say the hugs, kisses, and gentle touches were very much a thing, and they start to disappear, it’s usually because the emotional warmth between you has too.
When they stop reaching for your hand or leaning in close, it is very likely because their desire to connect with you has weakened.
5. They don’t get jealous or protective anymore
When I was younger, I used to say jealousy is a wasteful emotion because my logic was that it didn’t stop a cheat from being unfaithful.
However, even when I was saying that, I used to feel jealous when I saw my man or even a crush with another woman.
I say that to say, jealousy is a natural feeling when you care about someone.
That’s why it is a cause for concern when your partner stops caring about situations that would once make them a bit uneasy.
Of course, I’m not saying they should be unreasonable with the jealousy; that’s another issue.
But a healthy level of protectiveness shows emotional investment.
So, when they no longer react or even seem to notice when someone is encroaching or things like that, they’re likely emotionally detached.
You will notice that you could mention going out with someone else, and they remain unmoved.
At the very least, they should ask questions about who it is.
If they don’t care to know, it’s likely disinterest.
6. Your opinions no longer matter to them
Even my friends value and ask me for my opinions, so it’s not normal if your partner dismisses or ignores your opinions.
That’s a huge indication that they are disconnecting emotionally.
Indifference makes people self-centered, so they stop seeing their partner as someone whose thoughts or feelings carry weight.
When you start noticing your partner making decisions alone, brushing off your input, or simply changing the subject when you voice out your opinion, it’s a clear sign they’ve stopped valuing the bond you share.
When someone still cares about you, they will listen to you because your voice matters to them.
But when they stop asking what you think, it’s because they’ve stopped caring how their choices affect you.
7. They rarely initiate calls, texts, or plans
Relationship is a two-way street.
That means we both call, we both text, we both make plans, and we both make an effort to ensure the relationship is thriving.
So, when you notice you’re always the one reaching out, it’s a telling sign your partner is becoming indifferent to you.
People who still care naturally want to connect, even in the smallest of ways.
But when your partner stops initiating contact, it means they’ve lost their urge to maintain closeness with you.
When you start getting fewer or shorter messages, they are basically telling you that they no longer feel the need to stay emotionally linked.
After all, there’s no greater sign of indifference than the absence of effort.
8. Arguments no longer bother them
It may sound like an oxymoron, but arguments can be a sign that someone still cares about you.
It takes interest to fight with someone honestly, because you need emotions to want to argue with someone.
So, when your partner no longer reacts during disagreements, it’s often because they’ve stopped caring enough to fight.
Indifference replaces emotion with apathy.
Therefore, you will find that they no longer defend themselves, explain, or try to make peace; they just go quiet or walk away.
Of course, there is a sense in which you guys are now more in sync and so, you have fewer things to fight about – especially when you’re years into the relationship/marriage.
And there are also times when you decide not to fight to keep the peace.
But when there’s an actual issue to fix and all you get is an uncaring attitude in response, they are likely now indifferent.
Conflict only matters to someone who still values their relationship and wants to fix things.
When arguments no longer move them, they’ve likely emotionally checked out.