Well, let's see. I tend to push them away and let them know why I'm pushing them away (I'm very honest with people I date, might be why I'm single). But I don't do it as a game. I don't push them away to see how long it'll take for them to come to me or anything so childish as that. When I do it its more that I really just need some time to myself. Since I'm used to being alone so much, when I have someone always there who cares its makes things a little uncomfortable, not what I'm used to. So I give myself some alone time. Personally by the time I'm ready to come back out of my hole the girls have already given up on me and moved on. It doesn't happen over a long period of time, maybe 2 or 3 weeks, but they tend to give up. Personally the best thing I can advise is to give him some time and be there when he's managed to cope. Unfortunately not all guys work through it as fast as I do, ask Squirt. Her man had his hiding phase for like 8 months or so. Give yourself a limit on how long to wait. But be there for him when he's ready to come back. Hope that helps.