Those looking for ‘the one’ are being warned about a dating trend that’s apparently worse than being ‘ghosted’, according to some who have experienced its sting.
Dating can unfortunately be an absolute minefield, and every week, it seems as if there’s a new, negative trend for singletons to contend with.
Recently there’s been an uptick in ‘throning’ ruining relationships left, right, and center, as well as ‘carouselling’ which some claim can cause anxiety to skyrocket.
Another dating trend that has been doing the rounds for more than a year is being ‘zombied’, the harsher sister of ‘ghosting’.
What is ghosting?
To understand what being zombied entails, you first need to be aware of what ghosting is.
Psychology Today defines ghosting as ‘abruptly ending communication with someone without explanation’.
This could be a friend, someone you went on a date with once, or even someone you’ve been going steady with for months.
The impact of ghosting someone or being ghosted yourself is feelings of confusion, potential self-doubt, and even anger or helplessness.
It’s pretty bleak, but now you’re familiar with ghosting, just wait until you hear what being zombied has in store for you.
How is being zombied different from being ghosted?
Singer-songwriter Mariel Darling claims that being zombied is even worse than getting the spectre special.
The popular TikToker took to the platform last April to reveal that while others were being ghosted, she was being zombied.
"It’s like ghosting, but he comes back from the dead after a couple months and hits you up," the New York City dweller explained at the time.
So unlike ghosting when you never hear from your former flame again, being zombied means after weeks and maybe months of no contact, that special person drops back into your life again.
Being zombied has been described as a worse version of being ghosted (Getty Stock Image)
What does an expert say about the zombied dating trend?
After Darling went viral for being allegedly zombied, dating expert Samantha Jayne weighed in on the toxic dating trend.
In conversation with news.com.au, she revealed that the habit isn’t actually a new phenomenon.
Instead, she claimed the trend has been around for just as long as relationships themselves.
“It can be extremely damaging and confusing,” she explained to the publication.
“[It] impacts self-confidence and leaves someone feeling anxious about abandonment then when that person reappears can give a sense of hope and a painful reminder of the random departure.”
The specialist continued, saying it can leave people bewildered when a past lover returns out of nowhere with little to no explanation.
“Remember this person is appearing with no accountability and expects things to be back to normal as to where they left off.”
An expert claims you should 'honor' yourself by walking away from a relationship if it isn't working (Getty Stock Image)
Why do people ‘zombie’ former significant others?
While the idea of being zombied sounds ghoulish, it might not actually be a bad thing, says Kathryn Alice, a US-based Soulmate and Heartbreak Coach.
She claims that the reason one of your forgotten friends may blow up your phone again is because they ‘didn’t realise that they had formed an attachment to you and might even miss you’.
Speaking to Huff Post, the expert advised that sufferers should proceed with caution and perhaps even broach the topic of how the disappearance made them feel.
Alice added that it may also be better to ‘honor yourself’ by walking away if it ‘doesn’t feel like a good fit’.
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