G asks: I’ve been in a relationship for the past year or so. I do love the guy I’m dating but recently I have been overthinking a lot and thinking about taking a break. I get contradictory thoughts: one which says that I love him and another which says that it’s fading away. I don’t know what to do.
Hi G –
The big question here is what exactly you mean by “break.”
For example, I sleep on Handsome’s bed, but every once in a while, I feel like sleeping on the floor for a few hours. Then in the middle of the night I’ll jump back on and lie next to him, where I feel safe and loved. So you might say I took a break.
Then once or twice a year, Handsome will leave me, not just for a day or two, but for over a week. He calls it a “vacation” or “trip.” Maybe he flies to another city or country (it’s always about him flying; if he can drive, he takes me). So he’s taken a break from me – even if I wasn’t the reason for the break.
But I’ve also heard humans talk about taking “a break” in a relationship, meaning that they want to try breaking up and see how it feels, and if they want to fully break up or not.
It’s totally normal to feel full-on love at times and not at others. Especially when a couple’s been together for a long time. The big question is about the rest of your relationship – is he an ideal partner for you, do you two enjoy each other even when the passion’s not there, and biggest of all – do you think you might want to stay together for a long time, or forever?
If you’re not sure about those last questions, then yes, maybe taking a break is a good idea, just to see how you feel apart. But of course, doing that might make him go away, while you begin to realize you care more than you’d realized. So it is risky. But if we’re talking about the rest of your lives, maybe it’s better to take that risk now than to later regret not taking it.
Still, I know this kind of decision is no fun. Sorry you have to go through it.
All my best,
Shirelle