When guys are mad at their partners, they can get pretty cold and distant. They might not return texts or calls, and they might not want to see their partner in person. In some cases, they might even start publicly flirting with others or liking their pictures on social media, just to spite their partner.
Basically, they’ll do anything to make their partner feel bad. It’s pretty immature and petty, but unfortunately, it’s a common tactic that some guys use when they’re upset.
So how long should you expect this to last? And, what can you do in the meantime to help him get back to his senses, faster?
How long would he stay mad at you?
If you’ve done something to upset your partner or even just a guy you care about, it’s natural to wonder how long you’ll be in the doghouse. After all, nobody wants to be on the receiving end of a cold shoulder indefinitely.
However, the answer to this question is largely dependent on the individual. Some people are quick to forgive and forget, while others may need some time to cool off. To get a better sense of where this specific guy falls on this spectrum, it’s helpful to pay attention to their usual behavior or to your past experiences with him.
If he’s usually quick to forgive minor transgressions, it’s likely that he’ll also be quick to forgive you this time. In this case, you can apologize and expect him to get back to normal within 24 hours at most. On the other hand, if he tends to hold grudges, you may need to give him a little more time before he’s ready to make up. Even if you apologize and explain yourself, you may still want to give him space for another couple of days, until he’s over it.
Ultimately, only he knows how long he intends to stay mad at you, so it’s best to simply wait and see. You could even ask him in a gentle and apologetic manner, with big heart eyes, maybe it could soften his heart.
3 Things to do when a guy you care about is mad at you:
1- Give him space:
The best thing to do in this situation is to just give the guy some space and let him cool down. He’ll probably come around eventually, but in the meantime, there’s no use in trying to keep pushing to sort things out or reason with him.
He might need some time to calm down and think about things from his perspective. It can be tough to see someone you care about upset, but sometimes the more you try to justify your actions or explain yourself, the more it winds him up. Just give him some time and space to work through his feelings, and hopefully, things will get back to normal soon.
2- Apologize when given the chance:
When a guy you care about is mad at you, it’s important to apologize. He is clearly not mad at you for no reason at all. He’s probably upset because you made a mistake or something that you knew would annoy him and be unacceptable.
Even if you don’t think you did anything wrong, take responsibility for the situation and apologize, if you really care about him. Nobody enjoys breaking the hearts or hurting the feelings of people they care about. So have compassion and try to make a step toward him to show that you’re apologetic. This will show him that you’re willing to take responsibility for your actions and that you care about him a lot.
It’s also important to listen to what he has to say. He may be feeling hurt or misunderstood, and he needs to be able to express those feelings. If you can listen without getting defensive, it will help diffuse the situation and hopefully lead to a resolution.
Also, don’t try to fix everything at once. If he’s been hurt or disappointed, it’s going to take some time for him to forgive and forget. So apologize and give him space to think about your good intentions, at the same time. Just take things one day at a time and eventually things will get back to normal.
3- Work on rebuilding trust:
One of the most important things to do when a guy you care about is mad at you after you tried apologizing and giving him space is to work on rebuilding trust. This can be done by making amends and demonstrating that you’re truly sorry for having hurt him.
Showing that you’re regretful of whatever it was that caused the fight is key, but also try and make an effort to avoid doing that same thing in the future. It’s important to be understanding and patient; sometimes guys just need some time to cool off.
So apologize, take a step back to give him space and if he takes too long to get back to you try and remind him that you’re there for him and that you’re willing to work things out. With a little effort, you should be able to work through this rough patch and come out stronger than ever.
In the end, these are just a few points here and there to help the guy forgives you faster and move on. But, if you really made a big mistake or hurt his feelings deeply; then you may want to check this full guide on how to fix a mistake in a relationship.
Keep in mind though that we don’t mean cheating when we say big mistake. Clearly, such a thing needs more work or even therapy and you still want to keep your fingers crossed about whether it will be enough to help him get over it.