In an attempt to understand a partner's fear of commitment, we seek information to help us stay hopeful but in the process of information seeking, it's too easy to be completely derailed -- and completely confused by all the conflicting information out there.
I don't know about you, but much of the available information on fear of commitment is always negative and discouraging. And then there is all this use of "catch-all" phrases (fear of commitment, commitment phobia, emotionally unavailable, men/women who can't love) that really don't explain anything in depth.
What is even more troubling is that so many men and women are using these phrases (especially "fear of commitment" and "commitment phobia") as cope outs and excuses not to commit. Because "fear of commitment" and "commitment phobia" is now so fashionably acceptable (even so cool) it's easy to say to someone "I am a commitment phobe" or "I have fears of commitment" to stop them from expecting, wanting or putting pressure on you to commit.
Fear of commitment is often not well understood even by those who do experience it! I struggled with mine for years before I really understood what was going on. And in the process of understanding my own fear and over the years helping others overcome theirs, I've recognized three distinct concerns which many commitment-anxious people experience.
1. Fear of COMMITMENT ITSELF
This fear has usually nothing to do with you. People who fall under this category come in three different groups.
-- Those who don't like having to make major decisions -- making decisions simply goes against their nature. They find it hard to stick with anything long enough to reap the benefits. Their excuse is "I am spontaneous and just don't like to plan stuff." But the difference between spontaneous people and those who don't want to make decisions is spontaneous people make plans and decisions -- but keep the options open.
-- Those who find it painful to make major decisions -- making any major decision is gut-wrenching and even traumatic. This includes major decisions like leaving a job for a new one, moving to another state/country, putting a very sick pet to "sleep", etc.
-- Those who just don't like the idea of "binding" decisions -- they see commitment as a point of "no turning back" and so feel cornered and trapped. They get anxious because commitment triggers fear of losing freedom, of being tied down, of not being able to pursue one's dreams/goals etc.
If you are the person on the receiving end of fear of commitment itself, you really are never sure if you are in a relationship or not. The person doesn't make contact until you do and between "dates" nothing is going on that shows you are in a relationship. It feels like a relationship but it also feels like a booty -call (because these are the only times you really "connect").
2. Fear of COMMITTING TO YOU
This fear of commitment is about you -- and not about commitment itself. The fear is about making any promises or commitments to you that they don't fully embrace, don't believe they can keep or follow through.
The way you know someone has the fear of committing to you is that they say they love you, that you a great person and even act as if they are in a real relationship but also say something is "missing" in how they feel about you or in the relationship. In other words, they have reservations about you and about the relationship.
If you are the person on the receiving end, you often feel like you are not the "priority" but rather a "fall-back". There is also often some obsession with your imperfections/deficits, resentment of your "neediness", cheating, lies and sometimes even abuse etc. going on. In most of these relationships, there is on-and -off again breaking up and getting back together. The break-ups are always because "something is missing" and the person feels that he or she just can't take it anymore.
3. Fear of COMMITTING TO LOVE
This fear is about the person afraid of commitment. The concerns of these people are very different from the two concerns above. They aren't afraid of commitment itself (are very committed in other areas of their lives) and don't feel that something is missing in their feelings for you -- or in the relationship.
The problem for them is that one part of them values and desire love and commitment, yet another part of them fears the very thing they want so much. And precisely because they very much desire love and commitment, these people are often very loving and caring and treat their partners with a lot of sensitivity and kindness -- and are very attentive to a partner's needs (often out of guilt for not giving their partners that one thing their partners want most -- commitment). They are also unlikely to cheat or have affairs because of the value they place on love and commitment.
Unlike in the case where someone fears committing to you because they feel "something is missing" in how they feel about you or is missing in the relationship, the person who has this fear of commitment takes off because everything is so right about how they feel about you and about the relationship -- and that scares the hell out of them. They feel torn between extremes--longing to take a step forward into a loving committed relationship yet dreading being drawn in. Their fear often triumphs over their love. This fear also often reaches the level of a phobia, taking on a life of its own.
If you are on the receiving end of this fear, you have no doubts you are loved beyond all measure. You feel like a "loving couple living a couple's life", the only thing missing is "commitment" and whenever commitment comes up, you can literally see their struggle and conflict and how torn they are. It's like watching a scared child hiding in an open space in broad daylight and have no idea what to say or do.
So, if you love your man or woman and want to pursue a committed relationship with them, you need first and foremost to clearly define what frightens your partner about commitment and why.
None of all the three types of fear of commitment are hopeless or impossible to overcome, it's just that each requires a different approach to dealing with the fear of commitment and a different approach to steering the other person (or yourself) through to the other side -- the commitment side.
It's with this hope and knowledge of possibility that I offer these insights, advice and personal reflections from personal experience.
If you need help recognizing the type of fear of commitment in your partner or yourself, and need help on how to move ahead, visit my website for more information and articles.
About the Author: Christine Akiteng is an internationally renowned Sexual Confidence/Dating Coach and author offering men and women practical tools and advice on how to make themselves attractive by using natural instinct, common sense and self-knowledge!
Christines websites: http://www.torontosnumber1datedoctor.com
http://www.theartofseducingoutoffullness.com
http://www.playinghardtogettheloveway.com
