Love is a beautiful thing, and the truth is that no one wants to lose the affection of their partner.
Not after taking the marriage vows to love each other till death separates them.
Yet, it happens.
This is because sometimes in life, things happen regardless of how much we don’t want them to.
Love is the reason two people choose to build a life together, and it can feel like you are living in a nightmare if you discover that your partner has stopped loving you.
The truth is that when a partner stops loving you, there is a shift in the relationship.
But the saddest part is that this shift is usually not dramatic and immediate.
It usually occurs subtly, slowly bringing changes into the relationship.
In fact, it could be so subtle that some partners may not even know that they are steadily losing their love for their partners.
While we will focus on the things a man does when he stops loving his wife, the truth is that there are not many differences between the two genders regarding how they behave when they fall out of love.
Here are the things that happen when a man falls out of love with his wife—and what it might mean for the relationship.
When A Man Stops Loving His Wife, These 8 Things Happen
1. Uncomfortable silence reigns
When a man loves his wife, he talks to her.
He wants to share himself with her.
So, he tells her about his day, his dreams, and his fears.
The truth is that a way to recognize a happy marriage is by studying the couple’s conversations.
Are their conversations free-flowing?
If this is the truth, even when they are discussing serious matters, it is a sign of a successful relationship.
However, if conversations between you and your husband no longer flow easily, it could be a sign that something is amiss.
It feels like conversations with your husband are now forced.
In fact, he seems to act like he would rather be doing something else than talking to you.
This could be a sign that he no longer loves you.
When a man stops loving his wife, he stops sharing himself with her.
He no longer tries to be vulnerable with her.
Instead of meaningful conversations, silence reigns in the marriage.
Now, don’t get me wrong, people in successful marriages also have times when they are quiet.
But the difference is that the silence is comfortable.
The silence of partners who are so in tune with each other is peaceful.
When a man stops loving his wife, silence reigns in the house.
But this silence is usually uncomfortable.
It isn’t the peaceful silence between partners in love.
It is heavy, filled with unspoken words and a lot of tension.
When love fades in a relationship, the desire to connect also diminishes until it is non-existent.
2. He becomes emotionally distant
Emotional intimacy is crucial in relationships, and communication helps partners nurture their emotional intimacy.
However, when a man stops loving his wife, he begins to see absolutely no reason to share things about himself with you.
So, he becomes emotionally distant around you.
It feels like he is a stranger in the body of a familiar person.
The man who once felt like your partner and confidant now feels like just a roommate.
The truth is that even some roommates connect on a deeper level.
I used to stay in the hostel when I was in the university, and I had roommates.
There were times that I didn’t connect with my roommates.
We all just acted like strangers who had to share the same living space.
There were other times when we formed tight bonds.
My last room in the school was an example of that.
We were always having fun because we were more like friends than just roommates.
The point is that emotional withdrawal is one of the first casualties when love fades.
When a man stops loving his wife, he becomes a stranger in his own home.
He no longer opens up about his feelings or seeks to understand yours.
You feel like you are living with a shadow of the man you once knew—someone who’s there but not truly present.
If your husband feels like a stranger, it could be a sign that he no longer loves you.
Estrangement is what happens after love fades.
3. Arguments are more frequent
It is normal for couples to disagree, even in the most successful relationships.
In fact, the fact that partners still retain and utilize their ability to disagree from time to time is a sign of a healthy relationship.
It is totally unhealthy when you always agree with your partner over everything.
Even twins don’t think alike.
Therefore, there are situations where partners do not think alike.
The hallmark of a successful relationship is that these disagreements don’t lead to the deterioration of the relationship.
Instead, by resolving their conflicts, the relationship becomes even more successful.
While disagreements are normal in relationships, they become really frequent and less productive when love is gone.
Your husband may pick fights over perceived slights and trivial matters.
In fact, it feels like his default disposition is to pick fights with you over everything he can think of.
I know it can feel so confusing when it happens.
Imagine a husband ranting about his wife pressing the toothpaste tube from the middle.
At some point, you just have to realize that the problem is not what you have done.
The problem is in your husband.
His feelings for you are changing for the worse.
Sometimes, he just shuts down refusing to engage in meaningful conversations and conflict resolution.
This literally shows that he has no interest in resolving issues.
The mutual respect that once made resolving conflicts key is nowhere to be found.
4. He stops making an effort
The day I realized love was more than a feeling was the day my mindset changed.
In the past, I used to think that love was just a feeling and you didn’t need to do much to feel it.
Now, I know that it is not just a feeling– it is also a decision.
When people exchange the vows on their wedding day, many of them don’t realize that they are stating that even when things are not going fine, they will make a “decision” to stay.
Love without effort never lasts long.
If you love someone, you must be willing to make an effort to express that love; otherwise, you are just going through the motions.
When a man stops loving his wife, he stops making efforts as well.
It now feels like he is just nonchalant and indifferent about her.
He no longer acts like she is a priority to him.
In fact, he acts like he doesn’t even spare her a thought.
He no longer goes out of his way to make her happy.
And even if he doesn’t need to go out of his way to make her happy, he still doesn’t make the effort.
This is because he is indifferent to her.
If you only have memories of when your husband used to make an effort and nothing else indicates that he presently does, it is a sign that he no longer cares enough to try.
5. He is overly critical
Criticism, in itself, is not a problem.
It is beneficial for healthy relationships, especially when it is done constructively.
No one is perfect and so you shouldn’t be averse to constructive criticism.
However, when love fades away, criticism becomes the order of the day.
When a man stops loving his wife, he becomes overly critical of her.
He starts complaining about everything.
It feels like his wife can’t do anything right.
Sometimes, the flaws may be real but the way he criticizes her just seems so overboard.
I mean, why does a man feel it is right to tell his wife she doesn’t know how to do anything right because she spilled a drink in front of a guest?
It is a terribly destructive form of criticism.
I have come to associate this kind of criticism with a lack of love in the relationship.
If you love someone, you won’t want to bring them down with your words.
The saddest part is that a man who has stopped loving his wife will also criticize her over imagined flaws.
He nitpicks about everything from her appearance to her habits.
If it feels like you are constantly under your husband’s critical study, it is a sign that you may be in a relationship with a man who doesn’t love you.
6. His priorities shift
Love has a way of changing our priorities.
A single man usually prioritizes himself over everything.
He also prioritizes family and friends, but he is mostly focused on himself.
When he falls in love and marries a wife, his whole priorities start to shift.
The order of things he prioritizes changes and his wife moves to the top of the list.
Sadly, when love fades away, the order of things is changed once again.
He starts behaving like he used to as a bachelor.
His priorities shift.
His focus shifts to himself.
He may invest more time and energy into work, friendships, or personal pursuits, leaving little room for the relationship.
He now treats the relationship like an afterthought.
The truth is that if you are with a man who makes you feel like an afterthought, he most likely doesn’t love you anymore.
7. Physical intimacy is a thing of the past
Physical intimacy is central to the success of a relationship.
However, it is powered by love.
Personally, I know I can’t bring myself to be physically intimate with someone I don’t love.
The idea of it makes me shudder.
When love fades, the desire to show affection also fades with it.
Gone are the random hugs, the gentle touches, or the way he used to look at you like you were the only person in the room.
What’s left is a cold empty shell of what you used to be.
The bedroom feels cold and lonely even when he is in bed with you.
You can’t name what you have right now, but you know that it feels like a mockery of the intimacy you once shared with your husband.
8. The future is uncertain
Love is beautiful.
The reason why couples can consider spending a lifetime together is love.
And if it fades away, it leaves an uncertainty behind.
When partners love each other, they dream together.
They plan vacations, talk about retirement, and envision growing old side by side.
However, when love fades away, the future becomes a blur.
The dreams you used to have now feel like a joke.
If your husband has stopped loving you, he will avoid conversations about long-term plans.
He would make plans on his own without involving you, acting as if you were an afterthought.
And even when you call his attention to the fact that he no longer includes you in plans, he may act like you are just overthinking.
The truth is that you are not overthinking.
Your intuition picks up on the subtle shifts in his behavior.
If you have noticed these things happening in your marriage, I am sure the question on your mind now is, “What now?”
It is an extremely sad situation.
However, it is not hopeless.
Sometimes, when it is not nurtured properly, love can be lost.
This doesn’t mean it is forever lost.
Sometimes, it is buried under layers of resentment, miscommunication, or unmet needs.
The question is: are both of you willing to dig it out?
Honest conversations, couples therapy, and a commitment to rebuilding the relationship can reignite the spark.
But it takes two people who are willing to fight for what they once had.
On the other hand, if the love is truly gone, it may be time to face the painful truth and consider what’s best for both of you.
Staying in a loveless marriage can be more damaging than walking away.
It’s your choice to make.