Some people expect others to put all of the effort into making a relationship work. This might work out well if you really like the person, but it will get old pretty quickly.
If you feel that you are putting in most of the effort in the relationship, you may want to pull back for a while. Next time you run into the person they will inevitably ask, “Why haven’t I heard from you?” Both of you have arms and can pick up the phone to get in touch.
If you friend wants to know why you haven’t been in touch, let your friend know that friendship is a two way street with one of our great comebacks.
Best replies when someone asks why they haven’t heard from you
1. You expected me to keep in contact with you but not vice versa. I forgot that is how friendship works.
2. I like to give the gift of my absence to those who do not appreciate my presence.
3. Oh, you are upset that I have not called. Well, my number has not changed either.
4. I did not know your phone and email only had incoming capabilities.
5. I’ve just been busy living my life, just like you.
6. I am no longer a member of Psychic Friends. I wasn’t aware you were waiting for me to reach out to you.
7. I was in the witness protection program for a couple of months but I’m back now.
8. Wow, I didn’t realize it has been so long since we connected. I look forward to catching up soon.
9. I been having a challenging time, and I haven’t really talked to anyone for a couple of months.
10. I have thought of you often but I just didn’t have time to reach out.
Why do people ask why haven’t I heard from you?
While others forget relationships like an expired milk in the fridge, some people put all the effort into making it work.
So, next time when you run in with someone and they ask, “why haven’t I heard from you?” Here are the reasons why they still bother asking you.
1. Concern
People sometimes ask because they are genuinely concerned about your well-being. You are a person of interest and importance to them that’s why they want to make sure everything is okay.
2. Curiosity
If you’ve been unreachable for a certain period of time, a person gets curious and interested about what you have been up to for the past years. They want to know and catch on to the latest teas of your life.
3. Expectation
Perhaps, the person asking expected to hear something from you. And they’re wondering why you haven’t been able to reach out.
4. Guilt
Usually, it boils down to the struggles of keeping contact with friends. A person feels bad about going quiet for quite a time and not contacting you sooner.
By getting into a conversation and catching up for lost times with you, they are trying to make amends.
5. Connection
Some people just value relationships, wanting to maintain it as much as possible. So, if they asked, ‘Why haven’t I heard from you? ‘ that’s them trying to bring back the connection they once had with you.
When you haven’t heard from someone in a while
Communication is a two-way street, people. There has to be a flow of message from both parties and make it their responsibility to maintain it.
So, if someone asks why they haven’t heard from you, don’t just ignore it and throw in a half-reply. Make an effort on your end to explain the reason behind your lack of communication and then maybe, stay in touch in the future.
Life’s rule number one? If someone cares enough about you that they find ways to connect with you, make time for them — no one is ever truly busy to keep in touch with old friends.
How to deal with someone who wants to know why they haven’t heard from you
At times, it feels such a bother when people ask why they haven’t heard from you — admit it.
You had your reasons, of course. And while it’s so much easier to say that life got in the way, here are the steps on how to respond to the situation as humanly possible.
1. Be honest
Be honest or be kind? Well, when answering questions, it’s important to be straightforward. You should be truthful and candid, even if honesty doesn’t always pay.
Whether it’s a busy schedule or personal issues, explain the reason for your lack of communication in full-on honesty.
2. Apologize if necessary
If you’ve been shoving people on the side and taking them for granted by your lack of communication, it helps to apologize.
Genuinely express your regret and take that step to restore your relationship and act better in the future.
3. Reconnect
When a person matters to you, you need to make an effort to reconnect. Find time to catch up, no matter how frantic your schedule is. It’s even better if you can meet in person.
What’s so great about reconnecting with old friends is getting a new perspective of your life now versus how it was in the past. You can keep in touch with parts of yourself that might’ve been suppressed over the years.
4. Set boundaries
Expectations can sometimes be unreasonable that can lead to unhealthy relationships. So, while it’s pivotal to make time for friends and family, you should never forget to set necessary boundaries for yourself.
What your “needs” and “wants” matter too in a relationship; be very clear about them.
5. Communicate regularly
Communication is the ultimate key to avoid misunderstandings. By making an effort to effectively talk with the person regularly, you can maintain a positive and healthy relationship.
In relationships, communication helps you be connected with the person.
Therefore, when you hear someone asking why they haven’t heard from you, be happy. It’s a great sign of how they value their relationship with you.
Despite distance or schedule difference, they still want to stay connected and be a part of your life.
More comebacks you might like
- Funny answers to how old are you
- What to say when someone says you talk too much
- Comebacks when someone calls you a bitch
The Role of counselling and self care
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When you are dealing with someone who wants to know why they haven’t heard from you and you find it stressful, consider getting support from a professional. Talking to a counselor is a great way to work through a challenging situation, and help you find some strategies to work through the person’s behaviour.
Better Help is a great resource where you can talk to a counselor from the comfort of your own home.
Taking care of your own needs isn’t selfish, and you will feel better in the long run.
The phone works both ways.
The same reason I haven’t heard from YOU!
If you don’t hear from me it’s because I don’t hear from you, it works both ways. 🙁
My idea of a comeback: Oh. I forgot to call you? Sorry, I WAS DOING MORE IMPORTANT THINGS
That’s a wonderful phrase. ? have a great day.
What if you’ve been doing everything to communicate with someone for ages and they’re just not responding? My nieces and nephews don’t hate me, they love me. They just don’t respond. These answers seem to assume that someone will only say “Why haven’t I heard from you?” when they haven’t been making an effort themselves.
you sound like my mom 🙂
If someone says “i haven’t heard from you in a while” after you stopped communicating with them, you can agree and say “you know how i am” and if they have a problem with that let them know u stopped communicating bc “you know how they are. “