Love Bombing then Ghosting: How to Recognize the Warning Signs
Love bombing is a manipulative tactic used by some individuals to quickly gain another person's affection and trust by showering them with attention, compliments, grand gestures, and excessive flattery.
They focus all their attention on you to the exclusion of others and want all of your undivided attention. As part of their behavior, they may also give over-the-top gifts that showcase how thoughtful they can be.
It can be difficult to spot at the beginning of a relationship because feelings of affection and love are exciting.
This can blind a person to red flags. The intention of the person who is love-bombing is to feign their interest and fake the connection so that you are put in a vulnerable position.
Ghosting, on the other hand, is when someone suddenly stops communicating or disappears without explanation. This is often very confusing for the person on the receiving end when they are quickly cut out of a person’s life. They are left feeling confused and hurt because they were abruptly abandoned.
10 signs that someone may be love bombing then ghosting
It is not always easy to tell if someone is love bombing then ghosting you, but some signs that you can look out for are:
Exhibit rapid Intensity
Give over-the-top gifts
Engage in future planning
They ignore boundaries
Use extreme flattery
They lack empathy
Have inconsistent communication
Exhibit hot and cold behavior
Start to disappear
Engage in blame-shifting
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Let’s dive into these warning signs now.
1. Exhibit rapid Intensity
In the initial stages of a relationship, they often exhibit behaviors that are characterized by a rapid increase in intensity.
A love bomber may come across as very intense and express sentiments such as feeling like they have known you forever. They may constantly text or contact you, seeking your undivided attention.
2. Give over-the-top gifts
They give you extravagant gifts or surprises. And although receiving extravagant gifts or surprises can be exciting and flattering, it's also important to approach these gestures with caution if they are coming from someone you are not familiar with or if they are happening too quickly in a relationship.
If they are giving you over-the-top gifts, they may be trying to control or manipulate you. Gifts should be given without strings attached or making you feel you owe them something in return. Are they genuinely trying to show their affection, or are they trying to manipulate or control you?
3. Engage in future planning
While it's natural to be excited about a new relationship, moving too quickly can be a red flag for an unhealthy or potentially abusive dynamic.
If someone is pressuring you to commit or make future plans before you're ready, it's important to listen to your instincts and take the time you need to make informed decisions.
They may rush you into moving in together after a short time together. So it's important to approach the situation with caution and communicate your boundaries and needs clearly early on.
4. They ignore boundaries
They don’t respect your boundaries which may manifest as unwarranted eagerness for intimacy, or a refusal to respect your need for more time.
A lack of consideration for your boundaries may indicate an attempt to fabricate a sense of closeness in the relationship. And if you attempt to set healthy boundaries, the individual may become upset or unwilling to comply, adding another red flag to their behavior.
Sometimes when the other person attempts to set healthy boundaries arise, it may result in emotional outbursts or negative reactions from the other party.
5. Use extreme flattery
Someone who lovebombs will flatter you excessively, to the point where it feels insincere and slightly uncomfortable.
They offer constant praise that can make your head spin. This often involves showering you with excessive compliments and praise that may come across as insincere.
The constant barrage of flattery is aimed at creating discomfort and unease in the other person. If you encounter such manipulative behavior, it is important to recognize it and take appropriate steps to address it.
6. They lack empathy
They exhibit a lack of empathy and may appear indifferent toward your emotions or requirements. This behavior can stem from their own excessive neediness for attention and validation.
They never feel satisfied regardless of how much of your time or energy they receive. They may not seem to understand or care about your feelings or needs.
This is because someone who love bombs and then ghosts is very needy and no matter how much time you give them, it isn’t enough.
7. Have inconsistent communication
They communicate with you frequently at first, but then suddenly stop responding or disappear altogether. They are playing games or trying to manipulate you.
What started off as intense communication, quickly changes. And dealing with inconsistent communication from someone you care about can be confusing and hurtful.
It's important to recognize that this behavior is not healthy or respectful, and it's not your fault. This type of behavior is often a red flag for an unhealthy or potentially abusive relationship.
8. Exhibit hot and cold behavior
Their behavior towards you may be unpredictable, with sudden shifts in mood or attention. You don’t know who is showing up because their behavior has now become unpredictable.
This is often a very challenging and frustrating situation because it creates a sense of uncertainty and anxiety, and it can be hard to know how to respond.
9. Start to disappear
They suddenly stop responding to calls, texts, or messages, without any explanation. This can be a painful and confusing experience. They have started the process of ghosting you.
They are trying to avoid confrontation or don’t know how to communicate their feelings.
10. Engage in blame-shifting
If confronted, they start to shift the blame onto you, making you feel responsible for their disappearance. This is a common tactic used by people who want to avoid taking responsibility for their actions or behavior.
Ghosters want to make you feel responsible for their disappearance. It's important to recognize that this behavior is not healthy or respectful.
Final Thoughts on Love Bombing then Ghosting
If you notice these signs, it's important to trust your instincts and take steps to protect yourself emotionally. Prioritize your own well-being.
Healthy relationships are built on mutual respect, trust, and open communication. Love bombing and ghosting are not healthy or sustainable relationship behaviors
It’s also important to recognize and remember that you cannot control someone else's behavior. If they continue to act inconsistently despite your efforts to address it, it may be necessary to re-evaluate the relationship and consider whether it's worth continuing.
Remember you deserve to be treated with respect, consistency, and healthy communication in your relationships.
Don't settle for anything less.
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