Love

11 Things The Woman Who's Afraid Of Getting Hurt Wants You To Know

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When a woman has had her heartbroken, she loves differently, moving forward. When this happens, you should learn what to say to a girl who is afraid of getting hurt, as she will now have doubts about relationships in her future.

It's harder for her to open herself up completely in the beginning, and even though you might think that her baggage isn't your problem, she's infinitely worth the trouble.

How do you tell if a girl is scared of her feelings for you? You just have to look out for the signs she's scared of getting hurt or the signs she loves you but is scared of getting hurt. She may be guarded and scared but she's only human.

RELATED: 5 Ways People With A Big Heart Can Protect Themselves From Getting Hurt Again

She wants to find love again, but it's going to take time and patience for her to truly let her heart ease into a new adventure.

Before you date her, there are a few things you should know.

Here are 11 signs she's scared of getting hurt.

1. She only takes chances she thinks are truly worth it.

When the woman who's been hurt time and time again really allows herself to open up, it's because she sees an opportunity to be vulnerable that seems to be worth it. In other words, you're worth her investment so don't take it lightly.

RELATED: Why 'Being Scared Of Love' Is A Pathetic Excuse To Dump Someone

2. Her heart is gold, therefore she protects it with armor.

The size of the heart she protects is grander than you can ever imagine. It's because she's loved and has been broken before that she protects what she has with everything she can. What's inside her to give is safeguarded for good reason: she loves fiercely.

3. She wears her pain like diamonds.

She's not afraid to show her vulnerability, nor is she afraid to voice her concerns over the fears from her past. It's not that she's trying to unload her baggage onto you; she just might choose to share with you the things she's afraid of so history doesn't repeat itself.

4. She needs your affectionate actions as opposed to words.

She's no stranger to being told everything she wants to hear, but she's also been disappointed by plenty of words that weren't backed up with action.

Now, she needs a real man who will pay attention and shows signs he cares for her and shows her she's in safe hands. She needs more close attention with eye contact, touch, body language, and love behind every action.

Words without action don't interest her, and her wanting more affection from you could indicate one of the signs she is afraid of losing you.

5. She takes her time observing who you are.

She won't jump in easily and she treads very cautiously while getting to know you. To her, it's more important to learn who you are at a safer distance because diving in too deep early on has caused her grief in the past. Be patient with her. She may seem disinterested at times but it's only because she needs to tread lightly to avoid further disappointment.

6. She'll retreat if you give her reasons to doubt you.

If you wave even a small fraction of an assh*le flag or give her reasons to doubt your interest, she'll pull back as a defense mechanism. She refuses to get hurt again. In other words, don't be a dick and you shouldn't have a problem.

RELATED: How To Protect Your Heart Without Closing It Off To Love Completely

7. Honesty goes a long way with her.

She needs someone who will offer her unwavering honesty. She doesn't have time to read between the lines. Whatever you feel about her, it's best to let her know. If you like her, tell her. If you have doubts, it doesn't matter if you're scared to admit them, let her know and state them. Don't leave her wondering where she stands or if she can truly trust you.

8. She knows how to love deeply.

This woman is hiding her feelings and keeping her love under lock and key for good reason. It's because what she has to give is completely worth the journey into her heart. She loves way too hard or not at all. It's because she's been lonely and has experienced pain, so she knows that what she has to give needs to be fully earned first. She wants to fall in love from a deep place of trust.

9. She's stronger for having built herself back up from broken places.

The woman who's had her heartbroken and is willing to take a gamble on love again is a brave and courageous woman — she's a warrior. Don't shame her for her slow movement, she's afraid of getting hurt again and doesn't want to fall too fast. Instead, admire her ability to rise from the ashes.

10. Trust and loyalty are the number one priority for her.

If there's no trust, she sees zero value in investing her time and energy into you. If you can't offer her loyalty, she won't waste her time with you at all. If you truly want to earn her heart, you need to be coming from an equally thoughtful place. Love isn't a joke to her.

11. She's worth every bit of effort.

The woman who's afraid of getting hurt doesn't intend to come across as standoffish nor does she want to feel like dating her is a chore. She's simply a human who has a fragile heart because it's been broken before, sometimes numerous times, and all she wants is to feel good again. 

Take your time and don't rush the process. How do you know if she's falling for you? If you show her you care and that your intentions are good, then you will know soon if she's falling for you. When she finally opens up that golden heart of hers, you'll see just why every step was worth the effort. She'll appreciate you and love you like no one else ever has.

RELATED: How To Set Healthy Boundaries — So You Stop Getting Hurt

Andrea Wesley is a freelance writer living in the suburbs of Vancouver, Canada. She’s a lover of wine, sushi, all things Parisian, and spiking her coffee with Baileys. She is also a contributor for The Bolde and Elite Daily