“Because situationships are often more casual than traditional relationships”, she says, “there may not be as much support from friends and family during the breakup.” It can make a lonely, difficult time even tougher; not exactly the dream conditions under which to heal healthily.
According to Jaime Bronstein, a relationship expert living in Los Angeles, the end of a situationship can feel more painful than that of a long-term commitment since it's more likely to trigger feelings over “what could have been.”
Why do situationship break ups hurt the most? According to dating expert Callisto Adams, situationship break ups hurt the most and take the longest to recover from because of what could have been: “It leaves the partners wandering around with a lot of questions that cannot be answered,” she says.
First and foremost, if two people are in a situationship, it is a fact that one will be more attached than the other. Since there is no clear line or boundary for what a situationship should be and how one should handle it, it can result in emotional and mental trauma, just like it does during a breakup but worse.
Situationships can have a significant impact on one's mental health. The lack of clarity and commitment can cause anxiety, uncertainty, and insecurity, leading to feelings of loneliness, depression, and low self-esteem.
"When both people are not in sync on the nature of the situationship, anger and resentment can arise over time," says Carla Manly, a psychologist practicing in California. "This can manifest in toxic behaviors, such as passive-aggressive actions, anger outbursts and toxic communication."
How long is a situationship supposed to last? Situationships can last for a few days, weeks, months, or even years. Just like in other relationships, there's no expiration date unless one or both of you choose to end the situationship and move on.
“People who tend to gravitate towards situationships are those who want the emotional connection and intimacy with a partner in a compartmentalized way,” Romanoff explains. “They may have emotional presence and connection in person, but when apart, they also have freedom outside of a committed relationship.”
Things in the Situationship Aren't Changing
Everyone has one or two vices that they are not proud of. If your partner shows consistently that they are not willing to change whatever bad behavior they have that bothers you, don't try to change them if you can't live with it. Instead, leave.
Don't try to force things or get too serious too quickly. Keep things light and fun, and enjoy the ride. Honesty is always the best policy, but it's especially important in a situationship. If you're not feeling it anymore, it's better to be honest and upfront about it than to string the other person along.
Whereas FWB involves two consenting adults making a decision around desire, and sexual needs and fulfillment, a situationship is taking advantage of one person's strong desire to have a relationship and leading them on while having sex with them.
Going no contact is only helpful for you to move forward. The no-contact rule will not make your situationship want to commit to you. Full stop. And I know it hurts so much they didn't want you the way you want them and I'm so sorry.
A situationship is basically an undefined romantic relationship. Unlike a friends with benefits situation, there can be feelings involved in a situationship, but the terms of the relationship and the end goal of the relationship are not defined.
People who tend to gravitate towards situationships are those who want the emotional connection and intimacy with a partner in a compartmentalized way. They can have emotional presence and connection in person, but when apart, they can have their freedom.
If you haven't defined the relationship yet but are still sleeping with each other/cuddling/hanging out in a non-platonic way, you might be in a situationship.
An curved arrow pointing right. Dating gurus on TikTok recommend a new rule to weed out incompatible partners. They call it the three-month rule, where people can evaluate potential partners for 90 days. They recommend not exclusively dating someone — or even kissing them — for these first months.
It's characterized by emotional intimacy, spending time together, and often involves a physical and sexual component. However, partners won't define their relationship, place it into a category, or set clear boundaries. A situationship can cause uncertainty, anxiety, and confusion about the future of the relationship.
You never know when you're going to see them
Unlike being in a relationship where you might have set dates and plans, a situationship is spontaneous and lacks consistency. You might see a person many times one week and then not see them again for a few weeks. "
You'll know you're in a situationship if you go days without a text or call from them, and then they respond as if nothing happened. This inconsistent communication can mean they're not interested or invested in the relationship.
It happens between being introduced to someone and officially dating, and it can involve talking or texting for days – even months. The purpose of this stage is to have the opportunity to get to know someone before committing to a relationship with them.
Many situationships are really meant to be friendships.
It's more than friends with benefits that tend to veer on the more fun with the sex side. A situationship is a relationship in the sense that there are genuine feelings involved.