Ghosting: When Silence Becomes A Brutal Breakup

What is Ghosting?

In English, the word "ghost" refers to a spirit or specter. Ghosting is a breakup tactic where one person completely ignores the other, similar to quiet quitting—but even worse 😥. Essentially, your partner vanishes without a trace, ending the relationship without a word. One day, everything seems fine, and the next, they disappear as if the relationship NEVER existed 🤯.

Ghosting is a brutal breakup that often leaves the person on the receiving end feeling confused and even traumatized. You’re left with no explanation, desperately trying to reach out, questioning what went wrong, and wondering why this is happening to you… 

>>> Read; Why do ghosters always come back?

👋 Related: Check out love bombing—when someone manipulates us into falling for them...

Why Do People Ghost?

Let’s be clear—if you’ve been ghosted, most of the time, it’s not your fault. The other person simply lacked the courage to communicate what they wanted or felt. Unless there was genuinely toxic behavior on your part, ghosting is a reflection of the ghoster’s issues.

Most ghosters fall into specific personality types:

• The serial dater: Constantly moving from one relationship to another with zero emotional attachment. This person may lack empathy and could even be a classic narcissist. 
• The commitment-phobe: Afraid of long-term relationships and fearful of love. They end things abruptly to avoid emotional vulnerability.
• The insecure one: Lacks the confidence to communicate openly, so they take the easy way out—by disappearing.

In general, people who ghost either struggle with emotional communication or have an inflated ego that leaves no space for others, even their partner. Instead of handling breakups maturely, they vanish to dodge uncomfortable conversations.

Ghosting: More common among men?

Studies suggest that men ghost more often than women—likely due to societal conditioning. Many men are not raised to express emotions or show empathy, leading them to avoid difficult conversations. However, this doesn’t mean women never ghost—it’s just less frequent 🤷‍♀️.

How to handle being Ghosted?

Ghosting is especially painful if you struggle with emotional dependency. The sudden silence triggers an intense need for closure, making you want to reach out for answers. But here’s the harsh truth: seeking answers is one of the worst mistakes you can make after a breakup. The more you chase, the more they avoid you. Instead, focus on these essentials 👇:

• Accept the situation and prioritize self-healing,
• Remember that the issue lies with them, not you! 

As someone who has been ghosted not once but TWICE, I know how painful it is. But seeking an explanation is often pointless. Worse, ghosters sometimes play the toxic game of "chase me, and I’ll run; ignore me, and I’ll come back." Many ghosters even engage in orbiting— where they quietly watch your social media without actually engaging 💀.

However, do not waste energy hoping they’ll return. Instead, focus on moving on and healing. As mentioned earlier, ghosting can severely damage trust in both yourself and future relationships. It creates deep emotional wounds, so it’s essential to prioritize self-care and surround yourself with support.