What can be the reasons for self-sabotaging behaviours when it comes to relationships?
By relationships, I mean both platonic and romantic. I'm just doing a bit of soul searching and reflecting on things I've done in the past.
For example, I used to get a weird sense of satisfaction by rejecting girls that showed interest in dating me, even though deep down I wanted a relationship and wanted to give them a chance. Not in a cruel way, just in a "sorry I'm not looking for a relationship right now" kind of way.
I also used to sabotage friendships that were forming before I got too close to the person. Sometimes I ghosted people, acted cold around them, or just didn't go out socially with them. The result was exactly what you'd expect - people just stopped speaking to me and didn't make an effort anymore, just as I hadn't with them.
I've hurt people that cared about me and can't figure out whether it's fear of getting close, fear of showing my vulnerabilities, or something else entirely.
Could it be that you just want to be chased? Enjoy being hard to get? Feeling valued. Get satisfaction from being contacted and approached but then once it all disappears it feels like you lost?
I'm only thinking this because you wrote you get a weird satisfaction from rejecting.