Ever felt like you’re giving more than you’re getting in a relationship, or constantly on an emotional rollercoaster? If you answered ‘yes’ to either, then chances are, you’re a victim of breadcrumbing. Contrary to the gloomy Hansel and Gretel fairytale, where breadcrumbs are helpful, in the dating world, breadcrumbs are cunning tricks that only lead to heartache.
Bread What?!
Breadcrumbing is what some people do when they merely want to keep you hanging on by a thread, as opposed to just disappearing and refusing to talk to you (known as ghosting). It enables them to enjoy some sexual contact with you or ego stimulation without having to commit. The truth is that it might be difficult to confirm if you’re being breadcrumbed; the best course of action is usually to trust your gut. If something seems weird, there’s unquestionably a problem. Dating should not be complicated or full of manipulation – it should be exciting and engaging. But just in case, we’ve listed a few signs of breadcrumbing that you might wanna keep at hand if you ever come across a breadcrumber.
Inconsistent Communication
Inconsistent communication is a typical breadcrumbing practice. For instance, there can be periods when they are incredibly responsive, followed by other times when they seem to vanish. In essence, they merely provide you with enough to maintain your impression that they are interested, then they leave you in the dark for extended periods of time in an effort to drive you away. As soon as they suspect they might be losing your attention, they resume paying attention until they sense you have recovered it.
Impromptu Arrangements, Generally Involving Sex
Breadcrumbers have a penchant for making booty calls. When a breadcrumber does start forming plans, it usually happens on the spur of the moment and is driven by sex. During this time, they might even let down their guard and become more vulnerable with you, but this won’t last. After the booty call, they return to their regular life and stop communicating with you until they are prepared for the next hookup.
Secretive
Breadcrumbers may be secretive about their lives, giving you the impression that they are keeping something from you. Because of this, they might divulge details about themselves only to build a bond, but you won’t feel like you know them all that well. They don’t want to get too near, therefore, they’re keeping you at a distance on purpose.
Hidden Agenda
It’s acceptable for people to have interests outside of relationships, but breadcrumbers could lie about their intentions or interests to get what they want. For instance, they might play you off to get back with an ex. Or, perhaps, they’re using you to make a point or to make themselves feel better. Simply put, they are hurting you or exploiting you since their motivations aren’t sincere.
They Don’t Make Or Commit To Any Plans
Breadcrumbers will talk to you about going out on a date or catching up soon, but they won’t initiate setting up a meeting, and it’ll probably never happen. They also have a talent for making up justifications by suddenly putting back meet-ups for another day. Hence, if your partner is an adept at let-downs, consider yourself to be breadcrumbed.
You Feel Unhappy And Confused
When around a breadcrumber, you generally become aware that you are dissatisfied most of the time. You experience a lot of anxiety, worry, and low self-esteem because of your relationship with them; and you don’t feel confident in your relationship or in yourself since you don’t fully trust them or their motivations.
