Girl Problems: Dealing With Unrequited Love at 18

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The discussion revolves around a young man's feelings for a girl he has recently reconnected with. Initially believing it was just a crush, he now realizes he genuinely likes her, but suspects she only sees him as a friend. Complicating matters, she recently ended a serious relationship and is emotionally vulnerable. The man is confused about whether to express his feelings, fearing it might ruin their friendship or lead to awkwardness, especially since she has shown interest in another guy. Participants advise caution, suggesting he should not rush to confess his feelings while she is still processing her breakup. Instead, they recommend maintaining the friendship and gradually building a deeper connection without explicitly stating his feelings. They emphasize the importance of confidence and suggest that he should ask her out in a way that makes it clear it’s a date, rather than a casual outing. The conversation highlights the complexities of navigating friendships and romantic interests, particularly when one party is emotionally fragile and potentially on the rebound.
  • #31
Physics is Phun said:
ahh wonderful, the boyfriend is trying to make ammends. If they end up back together (20-30 % chance I'd say) then this is just over... especially after mine and his little pow wow.
Well, given the other part

Physics is Phun said:
. . . . the guy wasn't apparently looking for one, so that's why they broke up. It wasn't mutual, he broke up with her, in an extremely ***holish manner.

If she decides to re-establish this relationship - all the more reason to step back and remain friends. If she does 'take this guy back' , I would seriously wonder about her judgement. :rolleyes:
 
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  • #32
I would say don't wait, and just go for it. If it's meant to be, then it is meant to be. You can't strategize your way to a great relationship. It just happens.

I'm in a great long-term relationship right now where I got by girlfriend a month after her last boyfriend.
 
  • #33
If you are looking for miss perfect, try being mister perfect. Perfection is not an achievement, it's something you do. Also, I think in most cases, the awkwardness also stems from the permanance of marriage, and therefore the emphasis on having an ideal partner, the following is what my priest had to say about this:

From the book Maitreya said:
Your Ideal Partner
Let's completely wring the neck of an illusion that poisons
your existence, that of the ideal partner.
The word ideal contains the word idea , that is to say the
idea you have of the partner in question. If it is an idea, it is
not absolute truth.
Where does this idea come from? If you look carefully, you
will find a long trail leading right to your childhood. As a
child, the concept of the ideal partner might have come from
your mother or father. Some little girls dream that the man
for them will look like their father whom they admire; some
little boys dream that they will defend their mothers for as
long as they live. Then you grew up, and started reading.
Remember Prince Charming with his bravery, fearing
nothing and without blemish, or the princess with long hair,
whose long eyelashes shaded her huge eyes? Gradually you
might have started dreaming that you were these heroes of
your childhood and you would give the kiss that would wake
up the princess, and she would fall in your arms, reassured
and grateful, and you would whisk her away on your steed, as
a knight in shining armour.
Such images, or ones like it would have been imprinted in
you. Then with time, other heroes, other models would fol-
low, models you admired, a singer, a tennis player, a dancer,
or an actor.
Then you continued to modify that for one reason or ano-
ther, perhaps as a reaction to something, and gradually you
built up an ideal model in your head.
Then the time for the real thing came along, and it was no
longer in front of photos! It was a real life adventure. Perhaps
you were a bit shy the first time. That is the case for most ado-
lescents, especially boys. 95% of people are very shy. Some are
even more timid than that and say, Tomorrow I will
approach her, for sure, I will dare . And then when they are
in front of her, or him, they blush all over and give up
without having dared to say anything. I can't believe it, how
come I wasn't able to? This goes on for months, even years
for some people. They get spots and think that is the reason
why they can't succeed. So they plaster them with cream. We
all went through that!
As we get older, we no longer need cream because we have
a beard to hide them instead, but we boys often remain shy!
And one day, you meet your ideal partner, just the type that
you have in mind. All you can think about is them, but they
reject you. What a humiliation. So you decide this can't be
your ideal type any more and you change your criteria again.
So with each successive dream, success or failure, you cor-
rected and tweaked your internal model. And gradually with
time, you construct an ideal type in your memory, which as
you now understand, is an accumulation of everyone you
knew and all your hopes, and generally it ends up correspon-
ding to the first partner with whom you had a successful
sexual relationship. For the rest of our lives we end up chasing
that same type of man or woman.
You can see for yourself by going over your sexual career, if
I can call it that, and you'll find that all your partners follow
approximately the same pattern, with a few exceptions that
are often a reaction to a disappointment. Both woman and
man alike, we were so imprinted by our first experience with
our first love, that we chase after that same type all our lives.
In fact, nothing can be more stupid! We shall demonstrate
this with a fun calculation.
There are four and a half billion humans on Earth this
number will have surely changed in the few moments since I
just said it since there are over three births per second. Let us
remove half, which leaves about two billion and a half remai-
ning of your complementary sex. I don't say opposite sex,
because man and woman are not opposite, they are comple-
mentary!
So that leaves us two and a half billion people of the com-
plementary sex to you in the world today. If we subtract the
very young and very old, that leaves one and a half billion
people available for a loving relationship.
Lets remain in the French speaking part of the planet, let's
say seventy million. Next we remove all those in a different
social category from you, whom you will probably never have
the opportunity of meeting. Thinking big, this leaves about
ten million complementary people.
Lets keep on narrowing it down by dividing that into
regions. That gives one million potential partners in your
region. Take away those with different tastes from you and
who don't fit exactly with your type, we divide by ten. That
leaves one hundred thousand possible partners.
Lets narrow it down even more. Why? Because they have
their own ideals, and because of their racism, religious fanati-
cism or hate of sects, they will reject you. So let's divide by ten
again, which gives ten thousand possible partners!
So in your region, there are ten thousand possible partners
who potentially correspond to your tastes and to the ideal
that you have built up. And still you feel sorry for yourselves
because you think there is only one ideal partner for you?
Of course this is just an arbitrary calculation, but can show
you what possibilities are within your reach. If you wanted to
be even more selective, we could say that there are at least 500
ideal partners for you. That means 500 ideal partners who
correspond to exactly what you are hoping for.
Isn't it wonderful to think of this number when you feel a
bit alone? That means there are presently 500 people who are
dying to know you. So go for it, if your dream is to have a
loving relationship or to form a couple.
It goes without saying you will need to make an effort,
because if you stay at home thinking I will never succeed, I
am too shy and inhibited, then nothing will happen, that's
for sure!
The more you meet others and communicate, the more you
will become enriched and the more chances you will have of
meeting your ideal partner. You have to dare to smile, to dare
look at the person you are meeting.
Everyone has had the experience of suddenly feeling as if
something special happened upon meeting someone. Some
call this love at first sight. Suddenly, just from a look, or tou-
ching hands, something unexplainable happens, something
fantastic. And then we are hooked! We are in love just from
passing someone in the street. Sometimes we don't even dare
to speak to them for fear of ruining it. Rather than risking it,
we prefer to keep on dreaming.
But dare, dare to go further. What's the worst that can hap-
pen? That you might realize that the other person is the ideal
partner for you? No problem, there are still 499 remaining.
So each time you meet someone, dare to look at him or her,
whoever they are. Look at them as if they were the most
important person in your whole life.
The same applies to your professional life. Tell yourself:
This might be the person with whom I might make a
million .
And each time you meet someone you like, imagine they
might be the ideal partner you have been waiting for. This
will produce an intensity in your relationships that will make
it wonderful, whether it leads to something or not. It would
be so terrible to think that this could have been the one, but
it didn't happen because you didn't give the best of yourself.
Make sure all your assets are working for you right from the
start. Don't be afraid to approach people; be enterprising, be
aggressive. The meaning of aggressive was originally to go
towards others. We can go towards people negatively, that is
to say violently, or towards them positively, that is to say to
approach them. So dare!
And from now on, each time you meet someone, be aware
how they are a universe just like you. Go towards him, and
think how it is the most beautiful moment of your life,
because the most beautiful moment is always the one we are
just initiating, which will prepare the one that follows.
 
  • #34
Physics is Phun said:
ahh wonderful, the boyfriend is trying to make ammends. If they end up back together (20-30 % chance I'd say) then this is just over... especially after mine and his little pow wow.


It was over from the beginning. It was over before it started. I'm sorry to be the only person here willing to state the cold hard reality (not sorry to be stating it, just sorry that no one else will) but it was over from the moment she was coming to you with her relationship problems.
 
  • #35
Dude...if you have to work this hard to get to even first base, I agree with Franz...you lost the battle before it even began. It should never be this difficult. If it is, then something is wrong.
 
  • #36
:eek: :mad: no, emoticon, to express, what I'm feeling.

Well this is over. They're back together. She want's to be good friends, but I don't know If I can take that, I guess I'll find out.
Thank god it's only my birthday today...:cry:
 
  • #37
no, emoticon, to express, what I'm feeling.
I think I have just the appropriate emoticon for the moment.

Physics is Phun said:
Thank god it's only my birthday today...:cry:
Happy Birthday! :smile:
 
  • #38
haha, perfect! but it needs a girl smiley on top of the wall pouring acid on the other.

thanks Astronuc *grumble*
 
  • #39
Nah, you'll survive. Just learn from the experience, don't dwell on the loss, and don't harbor ill feelings.

Best just to stay friends for now.

At 18, be patient - you still have many years ahead.

Realize that this woman is who she is and leave it at that.
 
  • #40
first try dating a girl who you arent so strongly attracted to, and see how you behave with her.

once u get the feel of that then try the bigger fish
 
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  • #41
Physics is Phun said:
:eek: :mad: no, emoticon, to express, what I'm feeling.

Well this is over. They're back together. She want's to be good friends, but I don't know If I can take that, I guess I'll find out.
Thank god it's only my birthday today...:cry:


Just say Next! and move on. Its best for everyone involved that way.
 
  • #42
That means 500 ideal partners who
correspond to exactly what you are hoping for.
Isn't it wonderful to think of this number when you feel a
bit alone? That means there are presently 500 people who are
dying to know you. So go for it, if your dream is to have a
loving relationship or to form a couple.
This is frickin' incredible. There's only one way to decide: I'm going to have to take all 500 for a test drive.
 
  • #43
Well, instead of spending less time with her, I have spent practically the whole weekend with her :bugeye: So we got to talking about ghosts stories and spirits and such, and decided once we got back to her place she would, read my tarot card. :smile: So whatever, I go along with it, it'll be fun I say. Plus it'll prove to me that tarot cards are crap, when she wrongfully predicts my inner feelings and secrets or whatever :-p

Well...diiidn't quite go that way. at all! after sitting there and shuffling for a while she lays them out and (quite accurately) describes the circumstances in which we met, and to me, vividly decribed my and her's relationship :bugeye: So, I just sit there trying to put on my best puzzled/bewildered/composed face, but man, that just freaked me right out LIKE WTF?? that was just insane. I sat there watching her the whole time waiting for/fearing the moment when she might comprehend. But it never came, if it did, she hides it well.
Holy crap though, that was insane I didn't believe in that stuff and still don't, but what the hell! That was just freaking weird :confused: :bugeye:
 
  • #44
"...vividly decribed my and her's relationship So, I just sit there trying to put on my best puzzled/bewildered/composed face, but man, that just freaked me right out ..."

What does she need to do? Whack you on the head with a club and drag you to her cave?

She's waiting for you to make a move.
 
  • #45
Oh, one caveat:

This may actually succeed. You might actually make the connection you're looking for.

But be aware, she may be rebounding. She might just use you - and blow you off afterwards.

Just something to keep in mind.
 
  • #46
DaveC426913 said:
"...vividly decribed my and her's relationship So, I just sit there trying to put on my best puzzled/bewildered/composed face, but man, that just freaked me right out ..."

What does she need to do? Whack you on the head with a club and drag you to her cave?

She's waiting for you to make a move.


yeah... I had thought of that... I'm so confused :confused:
She IS back with her boyfriend though... but he's far away at school... for the moment.
 
  • #47
Ok, suppose she did go back to her boyfriend, but was disappointed with him (again) and it has become clear to her that she'd rather spend her time with you instead?

Perhaps you've shown her what a nice guy you are.
 
  • #48
Physics is Phun said:
So, I just sit there trying to put on my best puzzled/bewildered/composed face, but man, that just freaked me right out

Practice being nonchalant! :biggrin:

On the other hand -

You could tell her what you really feel, but that you know she is involved with someone else. Then tell her that you'll be around.

Basically, she needs to figure out where she is, and all you can do is wait.

Meanwhile, just do your thing and be yourself.
 
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  • #49
Astronuc said:
Practice being nonchalant! :biggrin:


elaborate... please and thankyou. :smile:
 
  • #50
The being nonchalant part was tongue-in-cheek, but basically be cool :cool: about your relationship with this woman. I don't mean be detached. I mean you need to be honest and forthright with each other - that has always been my approach.


It's hard to elaborate without knowing you or this woman.

But basically, you need to decide what it is you want in a relationship with this woman. Where do you see a relationship with her going? Do you share the same values?

She's in a relationship with someone else. She needs to decide where she is and what she wants. For what is she looking in a relationship?

At some point, a long-term relationship (possibly marriage) only works of both want the same thing! Relationships only succeed in mutuality and reciprocity.


I dated a woman until I found out she was married. She was separated, and thinking about a divorce, but she wanted to make her marriage work.

I told her that I'd be around and that I was not interested in looking elsewhere. She appreciated that. Meanwhile, I pursued my academic work and would occasionally check in with her to see how things were going.

After a few years of waiting and not looking (although there were a few women who expressed interest in me), I just happen to meet a really nice woman whom I ended up marrying. :smile:
 
  • #51
Uhg, I don' know. I just want to be with her. Preferably in a romantic capacity but also willing to be friends for the time being.

That opinion might change though when her "boyfriend" comes home for the summer. I just have to find out somehow if she's interested in me cause we've gotten really close over the last few days and if she is interested I think we could have something really good.

I also have this other nosey friend that keeps asking me if I like her or not. She is both her and my friend though, so I can't be certain if her motives for asking me are just curiosity, or perhaps the other girl asked her to ask me, or maybe she just wants juicy gossip or something to blackmail me with (she is kind of a meddler)

ohhh, I just don't know.
 
  • #52
Actually, I think it is time for you to play with your cards open now.
Tell herself what you feel about her, don't do it through Miss Matchmaker.
 
  • #53
Physics is Phun said:
Uhg, I don' know. I just want to be with her. Preferably in a romantic capacity but also willing to be friends for the time being.

That opinion might change though when her "boyfriend" comes home for the summer. I just have to find out somehow if she's interested in me cause we've gotten really close over the last few days and if she is interested I think we could have something really good.

I also have this other nosey friend that keeps asking me if I like her or not. She is both her and my friend though, so I can't be certain if her motives for asking me are just curiosity, or perhaps the other girl asked her to ask me, or maybe she just wants juicy gossip or something to blackmail me with (she is kind of a meddler)

ohhh, I just don't know.
For now, don't discuss this matter with the third party (your mutual friend)!

Well, if I were in your shoes, which I am not, I would just tell this woman in whom you are interested exactly how I feel (but that's me), and let the chips fall where they may.

I never liked the games people play. I was always direct and straightforward, and I prefer to be treated that way myself.

It seems the problem most people, men and women, have is the fear of rejection, or even downright rejection if and when it comes. Well that's part of life. I got turned down plenty of times. I didn't feel great about it, but I got over it. My existence doesn't depend on whether a certain person likes me or not, or wants to be with me or not. One needs to feel good about oneself.

Right now your in a holding pattern, and that will likely get you nowhere!

Tell exactly this - "we've gotten really close over the last few days and if you are interested I think we could have something really good." But be prepared for the fact that she might not share the same opinion. You could preface it with "while you view me as a friend (or just a friend), . . ."

Or you could simply ask her what she is looking for in a relationship.

If you can be patient, you might try to discuss, as friends, what each other wants in a relationship.

That is exactly what attracted to me about my wife, before we got married. We were just casual friends for about 9 months until we started dating. She and I would talk on a variety of subjects, including her interests (personal, academic and professional), my interests (personal, academic and professional), and each other's background. After we started dating, we got more serious about things personal and family histories, and what we expected in a relationship. We became engaged 3 months later. :biggrin: We lived together more or less for a year because I was in school about 90 miles away and she didn't want to be married and living apart.

Have you thought about discussing this matter with your mother? Seriously.

I have to often wonder why teenagers can't discuss such matters with their parents. I could with mine, and as a father, I would hope my kids can come to me with such matters.
 
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  • #54
It's not so much the rejection that I'm fearing. It's the fact that things may become akward between us if it doesn't go as I would hope. With what we have now, things are pretty good. I'm going to be in school for the summer term, and she and that other friend I mentioned will probably come up and visit on weekends here and there. We'll have some good times. But if I tell her and she does reject me, then I really don't know what'll happen. Things will probably get weird and we'll probably stop hanging out.

I mean, she does have a boyfriend at the moment afterall. That won't last forever cause I know this guy is a player, but it very well may last throughout the summer. And once fall rolls around she'll be gone off to school and I won't even be able to see her at all 'till christmas.

My instincts are to wait it out. She is not a shy girl and I'm sure she would make it clear if she were interested in me...probably... unless, she was afraid to while she was still with her boyfriend.
But 2 weeks ago they did have a fight and "break up" That would have been the time she would've said something. and during that time she said that she didn't want a relationship for a while... of course, she was just emotional at the time.
hmmm. I have some mulling to do...
 
  • #55
The thing is, it's going to become awkward anyway if you always have these feelings for her and don't know if she returns the feelings.

It's tricky when there's another boyfriend involved though. Letting her know you would be interested if she wasn't seeing someone else might be all that's needed. Don't press the issue, just let her know you find her attractive, but that you also respect her choices, if she wishes to stay with her current boyfriend. That way, if she decides to leave him, she knows you're interested.

It's so hard to tell when people start breaking up and getting back together...sometimes they're just working out various issues and wind up eventually staying together and being very happy together, and sometimes it's a sign they are growing apart and are heading quickly toward a permanent break-up.
 
  • #56
Moonbear said:
The thing is, it's going to become awkward anyway if you always have these feelings for her and don't know if she returns the feelings.

It's tricky when there's another boyfriend involved though. Letting her know you would be interested if she wasn't seeing someone else might be all that's needed. Don't press the issue, just let her know you find her attractive, but that you also respect her choices, if she wishes to stay with her current boyfriend. That way, if she decides to leave him, she knows you're interested.

That's about the worst thing you could do, IMO. If you have to actually tell her, then you're doing everything wrong.

It's so hard to tell when people start breaking up and getting back together...sometimes they're just working out various issues and wind up eventually staying together and being very happy together, and sometimes it's a sign they are growing apart and are heading quickly toward a permanent break-up.

I can say from experience, it doesn't matter, you don't want to even be trying to move in. I've done it twice, once for each possible resolution, and neither went well. I still happen to be friends with both girls, but all that came of it was a lot of trouble for everyone involved. Dating someone that you pulled out of one relationship to date you is not a good idea. Its like marrying someone who was cheating on their spouse with you. Bad idea.

I'm going to reiterate my point that you're spinning your wheels and wasting your time. Move on, forget about it unless she becomes definitely available, then you can do something.

Now that I've done that, carry on ignoring reality.
 
  • #57
*smashes head on desk*

I know I can't really do anything while they are still together. It's just that they aren't really "together". He's a thousand miles away at school right now.
And today she kept telling me (over msn) how much she misses me. We spent 14 hours together on the weekend for crying out loud. AHH what does this all mean??!?
I'm thinking perhaps she just wants a guy to hang around with until her BF comes home
But I don't know!
 
  • #58
Physics is Phun said:
And today she kept telling me (over msn) how much she misses me. We spent 14 hours together on the weekend for crying out loud.
Tell she is more than welcome to spend more time with you.

You could ask her - if she has a boyfriend, why does she miss you so much?

Or you could make a comment like - if she and you spend anymore time together, you might as well be gf/bf. And see how she reacts.

Don't smash your head too hard - you need to be able to think clearly now and later on. :biggrin:

And pay attention to Moonbear and the other PF sisters.
 
  • #59
Or you could make a comment like - if she and you spend anymore time together, you might as well be gf/bf. And see how she reacts

hmm, interesting... very interesting
 
  • #60
Physics is Phun said:
*smashes head on desk*

I know I can't really do anything while they are still together. It's just that they aren't really "together". He's a thousand miles away at school right now.

You certainly CAN, and even can do so successfully, I just would advise against it.
 

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