How to Tell if Your Body is Rejecting a Guy & What to Do About It

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Clinical Therapist & Adjunct Professor Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP explains common symptoms

Co-authored by Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: January 4, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Physical Signs
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• Emotional Signs
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• Next Steps
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Recent trending TikTok posts by psychologists and relationship coaches suggest that your body gives you physical signs that it’s time to leave your partner due to an unhealthy relationship. We’ll explain what the physical signs are, plus cover emotional signs of a toxic romance, and explain what to do next with help from clinical therapists, mental health experts, and a relationship coach.

Signs Your Body is Begging You to Leave Him

According to Clinical Therapist & Adjunct Professor Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP, your body may give you some clear warning signs that something is wrong in your relationship. Common symptoms include:

• Chronic fatigue
• Tension headaches or migraines
• Digestion issues
• Body pain or aches
• Acne or skin issues
• Chronic illness

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Physical Signs Your Body is Begging You to Leave Him

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   Chronic fatigue Tenzer explains, “If your relationship is unhealthy, your body often knows before your mind does and may give you warning signs.” Chronic fatigue is a common symptom, she says. Even if you get enough sleep, eat right, and exercise, you might still be exhausted. This can signal that your energy is depleted after you spend time with your guy. Were you were feeling fine beforehand, only to feel exhausted after spending time in his company?

   • Clinical psychologist Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS, believes that red flags like physical signs relate to “behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions that are toxic. Red flags are the body's subconscious and conscious warning signals relating to dangers, threats, hazards, or the potential therein.”

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Rebecca Tenzer, MAT, MA, LCSW, CCTP, CGCS, CCATP, CCFP is a Clinical Therapist and Adjunct Professor with over 18 years of experience in the field of mental health.

   Asa Don Brown, PhD, DNCCM, FAAETS, is a clinical psychologist with over 30 years of experience treating a variety of psychological disorders, trauma, and abuse.

   John Keegan is a relationship coach with over 15 years of professional experience in dating, attraction, and social dynamics.

   Laura Richer is a licensed mental health counselor with more than 10 years of experience in the mental health sector.
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   Tension headaches or migraines According to Tenzer, persistent tension is a red flag. Headaches, especially long-lasting migraines that ruin your day, can sometimes be linked to mental stress. Ongoing stress and anxiety from an unhealthy relationship can cause your body to produce stress hormones, which activate your nervous system in negative ways, like tension headaches and migraines.
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   Digestive issues Tenzer also cites stomach issues as a common red flag. Stress from your relationship can become apparent because of the mind-gut connection, which is the way your digestive tract and your brain communicate. Being in an unhealthy relationship may manifest as stomach cramps, bloating, feelings of nausea (also sometimes linked to anxiety nausea), vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea.

   • TikTok videos that discuss digestive and other physical signs of a bad relationship include videos from @rachellldaguanno and @dr._aria.
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   Lack of appetite Chronic stress from a toxic relationship or one with a narcissist can trigger a fight-or-flight response, which can release cortisol and/or adrenaline hormones that can suppress your appetite. Whether you experience high-anxiety encounters with your partner or a low-grade level of anxiety all the time, both can take their toll on how much you eat, leading to unhealthy eating habits.

   • Gaining weight suddenly might also be related to not properly dealing with anxiety or stress you feel from a relationship that isn’t working.
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   Pain or body aches If you start to notice your lower back hurting, tension in your shoulders or jaw, or any sudden pain or ache, it could be related to your relationship. The stress hormone cortisol regulates inflammation in the body. It also helps you respond to stress. Chronic stress from a toxic relationship can keep you in a “stress response” state, which can lead to pain and muscle tension in your body.
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   Skin issues Stress from a toxic relationship can also cause changes in your body’s chemistry that could result in a sudden outbreak of acne or other skin issues. The same “fight or flight” response may produce too much cortisol, which can show up as acne, itchy skin, rash, or hives. Stress you may be experiencing from your relationship can also affect your skin if you’re spending less time taking care of yourself, sleeping less, eating unhealthy foods, skipping exercise, or not washing your face daily.
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   Hormone imbalance When you’re overly stressed, your body produces too much stress hormone (cortisol), which can also lower your estrogen levels. Low estrogen is linked to irregular periods, weight gain, hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, and moodiness. Tenzer says that loss of libido is another common sign. Low libido is often linked to low estrogen levels.
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   Heart palpitations While intense feelings of love or anger can cause heart palpitations, so can stress and anxiety. If you’re constantly in conflict with your partner or arguing all the time, your body will start to move into a fight-or-flight response, causing your heart to beat faster and can even lead to a panic attack.
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   Hair loss Chronic stress from a toxic relationship can increase hormones that disrupt the hair growth cycle. When stress causes hair loss, it’s often temporary and may disappear when leaving a very negative relationship or experience.
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    Restlessness When you just can’t relax or feel panicked all the time (or super high energy without being productive), it could be underlying stress that is making you feel restless. Often, you may find yourself staying busy, performing unnecessary tasks, or doing extra work so you’re never alone with your thoughts. Your relationship could feel unstable or simply emotionally draining.
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    Chronic illness Tenzer says lowered immunity is another common symptom. Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, which makes you more susceptible to things like colds, flus, or stomach viruses. If you seem to always be sick, but can’t figure out why, your relationship could be to blame. See a health professional for a full workup.
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    Sleeplessness Tenzer says that sleep disturbances can signal something is wrong in your relationship. Negativity in a relationship can be a major factor affecting how much or how well you sleep. Dealing with anxiety, depression, or unresolved conflict in your relationship is difficult and may cause you to have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
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Section 2 of 3:

Emotional Signs Your Body is Begging You to Leave Him

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   Emotional signs can also point to an unhealthy relationship. If you can’t concentrate at work, are extra moody with friends and family, or can’t relax at home, you may be experiencing feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, or depression. These signs may be related to your relationship, and you might experience:

   • Irritability: You’re always in a bad or annoyed mood, especially around your S.O. Tenzer says you may feel unlike yourself.
   • Emotional distance: You feel emotionally disconnected from people, places, and things around you.
   • Lack of attraction: You’re not as interested in being intimate with your partner, or you avoid it.
   • Depression: Your mood is often sad or hopeless; you find yourself crying for no reason.
   • Lack of focus: You have trouble concentrating on work, friends, or yourself; you’re always in a state of worry. Tenzer says you may experience brain fog.
   • Panic: Chronic anxiety that eases when you’re away from your partner is a common warning sign, Tenzer notes. She also notes that panic and fear are signs of prolonged emotional stress. You feel panic even if you aren’t in immediate danger.
   • Relationship coach John Keegan suggests that anxiety is usually just “your intuition telling you ‘something's not right about this for me.’”
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   Not feeling safe may be a sign of physical or emotional abuse. Licensed mental health counselor Laura Richer states that "any type of physical, mental, or emotional abuse should never be tolerated. It's always time to end the relationship if any abuse is present." If your partner is mentally, emotionally, physically, or sexually abusive, seek immediate help.

   • Contact the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or Text “START” to 88788.
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Section 3 of 3:

What to Do Next

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1. 1
   Pay attention to what your mind and body are telling you. “When your nervous system no longer feels safe, it shifts into survival mode,” Tenzer says. “These somatic symptoms may pop up warning you that your body doesn’t feel comfortable with what is going on. It may be time to reevaluate if you’re having anxious symptoms around your partner.”

   • Keegan says that you should trust your gut when you know that “something's not right in the relationship.” Avoid brushing aside things that are bothering you about your relationship, and trust your intuition.
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   Get support from a friend or family member you trust. Lean on those you love most by talking to them about your issues, feelings, and the relationship itself. In some cases, you might find the solution is more obvious than you think.
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   Take care of yourself. Reduce stress through relaxation, and make time for self-care through rest, meditation, yoga, or time apart from your partner. If trying to ease stress and tension just isn’t working, consider what next steps you need to take for your health and wellbeing.

   • Always talk to a health professional if you have any serious concerns about your health.
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   Talk to a therapist or counselor for guidance. If you need a professional to help you work through your issues, consider seeking the help of a licensed psychologist or therapist. They may be able to better help you identify triggers leading to your physical issues, and make it easier to decide how to address them.

   • If you decide that your relationship is worth staying, encourage your partner to attend couples therapy with you so you can both work on your issues, or know when it’s time to break up.
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   Make a plan to end the relationship if you’re unhappy. If you know it’s time to walk away from your relationship, take steps to break up with your partner. Meet with him in a safe place or bring a friend along if you need support. Be direct when telling him that you need to end the relationship. Be honest about the stress you’re feeling, and how it’s manifesting physically and emotionally, if you feel comfortable doing so. Listen to what he has to say, but avoid getting into lengthy arguments over blame.

   • Stand firm in your decision and give yourself time to heal and grow from the experience.
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