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How to Handle Stop Talking to Someone You Like Step by Step

When stop talking to someone you like leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.

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Part 1

Spend less time with them in person.

Avoid hanging out when you can.

If you and your crush see each other regularly, you can give yourself some physical distance so you have less chances or reasons to talk. Julia Yacoob, PhD Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview Also, the less time you spend with each other, the less attached you might feel to each other.

If you and your crush see each other regularly, you can give yourself some physical distance so you have less chances or reasons to talk.
Julia Yacoob, PhD Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview Also, the less time you spend with each other, the less attached you might feel to each other.
If you and your crush see each other regularly, you can give yourself some physical distance so you have less chances or reasons to talk.
Julia Yacoob, PhD Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview Also, the less time you spend with each other, the less attached you might feel to each other.
If you and your crush see each other regularly, you can give yourself some physical distance so you have less chances or reasons to talk.

Part 2

Make excuses about why you can’t hang out.

Say you’re busy or not in the mood to talk.

If you don’t have real reasons to not be around your crush, you can just make some up! Make yourself seem unavailable, and they’ll probably stop reaching out as much after a while. This goes for in-person interactions and texts or phone calls. Here are some examples of white lies you can tell:

If you don’t have real reasons to not be around your crush, you can just make some up!
Make yourself seem unavailable, and they’ll probably stop reaching out as much after a while.
This goes for in-person interactions and texts or phone calls.
Here are some examples of white lies you can tell:
If you don’t have real reasons to not be around your crush, you can just make some up!

Part 3

Keep conversations short when you have to interact.

If you run into each other, just say “hi” and leave it at that.

There are cases where it might be impossible to avoid your crush. For example, if you work or go to school together, or have the same friends, you’ll probably see each other once in a while. When you do, keep your talk to a minimum and politely end the conversation however you can.

There are cases where it might be impossible to avoid your crush.
For example, if you work or go to school together, or have the same friends, you’ll probably see each other once in a while.
When you do, keep your talk to a minimum and politely end the conversation however you can.
There are cases where it might be impossible to avoid your crush.
For example, if you work or go to school together, or have the same friends, you’ll probably see each other once in a while.

Part 4

Mute, block, or unfollow them.

Don’t respond to texts, calls, or posts from your crush.

Having a phone and being on social media makes it difficult to stay out of contact with people. If you really want to stop interacting with this person, you have to become not only physically unavailable to them, but digitally unavailable, too. Julia Yacoob, PhD Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview It seems harsh, but it’ll definitely tell them you don’t want to talk.

Having a phone and being on social media makes it difficult to stay out of contact with people.
If you really want to stop interacting with this person, you have to become not only physically unavailable to them, but digitally unavailable, too.
Julia Yacoob, PhD Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview It seems harsh, but it’ll definitely tell them you don’t want to talk.
Having a phone and being on social media makes it difficult to stay out of contact with people.
If you really want to stop interacting with this person, you have to become not only physically unavailable to them, but digitally unavailable, too.

Part 5

Tell them why you don’t want to talk to them.

If they confront you about avoiding them, you might have to be honest about why.

Telling the truth can be scary! But sometimes, it’s the most mature thing to do in a situation like this. Telling the truth now could prevent a lot of pain and confusion for both of you in the long run. Julia Yacoob, PhD Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview Just remember to be respectful of their feelings, and only bring it up when you know it’s appropriate.

Telling the truth can be scary!
But sometimes, it’s the most mature thing to do in a situation like this.
Telling the truth now could prevent a lot of pain and confusion for both of you in the long run.
Julia Yacoob, PhD Clinical Psychologist Expert Interview Just remember to be respectful of their feelings, and only bring it up when you know it’s appropriate.
Telling the truth can be scary!

Part 6

Remind yourself why you can’t keep talking to them.

Trust that you know you’re doing what’s best for both of you.

Cutting a crush off can be hard. It takes a lot of self-control to stop talking to someone you like! But there’s a reason you’re doing this, right? Next time you catch yourself wanting to pick up the phone and dial their number, stop and reflect on why you know you know you shouldn’t.

Cutting a crush off can be hard.
It takes a lot of self-control to stop talking to someone you like!
But there’s a reason you’re doing this, right?
Next time you catch yourself wanting to pick up the phone and dial their number, stop and reflect on why you know you know you shouldn’t.
Cutting a crush off can be hard.

Part 7

Talk to other people in your life.

Remember that your friends and family are there for you.

You might not be able to talk to this one person, but there are plenty of other people in your life that you can talk to! When you feel like reaching out to the person you like, use that social energy on other people you care about.

You might not be able to talk to this one person, but there are plenty of other people in your life that you can talk to!
When you feel like reaching out to the person you like, use that social energy on other people you care about.
You might not be able to talk to this one person, but there are plenty of other people in your life that you can talk to!
When you feel like reaching out to the person you like, use that social energy on other people you care about.
You might not be able to talk to this one person, but there are plenty of other people in your life that you can talk to!

Part 8

Keep yourself busy with activities.

Find hobbies and projects to distract yourself from your crush.

When you like someone, sometimes all you want to do in your spare time is reach out to them. You can keep these urges away by spending your time and energy doing something else! Find something you’re passionate about and work really hard at it. For example, you could:

When you like someone, sometimes all you want to do in your spare time is reach out to them.
You can keep these urges away by spending your time and energy doing something else!
Find something you’re passionate about and work really hard at it.
For example, you could:
When you like someone, sometimes all you want to do in your spare time is reach out to them.

Part 9

Distract yourself when you start to think of them.

Redirect your thoughts toward positive things.

If you ever catch your mind drifting to your crush, stop yourself, and start thinking about something entirely unrelated. Take a breath and tell yourself, “OK! I’m going to think about something else now.” Remind yourself that there’s more to life than them. Instead, daydream about:

If you ever catch your mind drifting to your crush, stop yourself, and start thinking about something entirely unrelated.
Take a breath and tell yourself, “OK!
I’m going to think about something else now.” Remind yourself that there’s more to life than them.
Instead, daydream about:
If you ever catch your mind drifting to your crush, stop yourself, and start thinking about something entirely unrelated.

Part 10

Give yourself time to get over them.

Believe in yourself that you can and will get over this crush.

The amount of time it takes to fully “move on” from someone you like can range from days, to weeks, to months, to years. Trust that you’re doing what you can by not talking to them. That’s an important first step.

The amount of time it takes to fully “move on” from someone you like can range from days, to weeks, to months, to years.
Trust that you’re doing what you can by not talking to them.
That’s an important first step.
The amount of time it takes to fully “move on” from someone you like can range from days, to weeks, to months, to years.
Trust that you’re doing what you can by not talking to them.

Part 11

Start talking to someone else.

Don’t let yourself get stuck on this one person forever.

Maybe this relationship just wasn’t meant to work out. That’s ok! This probably won’t be the only crush you have in your life. There are so many other fish in the sea. Once you’ve given yourself some time to heal and think about what you want out of a relationship, you can put yourself out on the dating scene again!

Maybe this relationship just wasn’t meant to work out.
This probably won’t be the only crush you have in your life.
There are so many other fish in the sea.
Once you’ve given yourself some time to heal and think about what you want out of a relationship, you can put yourself out on the dating scene again!
Maybe this relationship just wasn’t meant to work out.

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