The truth is, yes, typically relationships will shift and change over time and sometimes that magical spark your relationship used to have, may fade away. The good news is that once the honeymoon phase ends, it creates room for a more intimate relationship.
According to experts, the most common reason couples lose their passion for each other and stop being sexually intimate is a pursuer-distancer pattern that develops over time.
Expect the passion to last two to three years at most, says Dr. Fred Nour, a neurologist in Mission Viejo, California, and author of the book “True Love: How to Use Science to Understand Love.”
That doesn't mean you'll go from being completely in love to feeling no passion in your relationship, but some excitement subsiding is pretty common. Even if you and your partner are each other's perfect match, you may find that the passion wanes over time.
INSIDER spoke to a relationship expert about the signs that can help you know when to break things off. If you're not feeling a spark, your loved ones hate them or you're emotionally cheating, it's probably time to end it.
Is It Normal to Lose Romantic Feelings? It's totally normal to have times where you feel more or less in love with your partner. At the same time, it's painful to have stillnesses in a relationship that leave you feeling lost or doubting its future.
Is it normal to lose the spark in your relationship? Yes, it's common for long-term couples to start wondering how to keep a relationship alive. It isn't the loss of the spark in a relationship that is the problem – the problem arises when couples lack the commitment to rekindle the romance.
If you are someone who is fuelled by passion (as I am) then it can be tough to lose it over night. It can come back, but you need to take gentle steps, a creative break, and time to reignite it. Know that you are not alone.
"Dopamine gets us interested in each other, but it responds only to things that are new or that are possible rather than real," Dr. Lieberman says. "Once you're in a relationship, that dopamine excitement fades and eventually stops.
What does it mean when the spark is gone? Sometimes a couple can lose its spark as a relationship. This could be due to several reasons: a dissipated sex life, you're no longer talking, you're not spending enough time together, and you don't make an effort to go out with friends or do anything fun anymore.
Other signs your relationship has had its "best days" include no longer cuddling at night, not going out on "dates" and letting yourself go physically. Nearly four in 10 believe the spark can begin to fade simply because both parties start to take each other for granted.
Yes, it's possible to rekindle love, passion, and trust in a relationship. But, it might depend on the circumstances that led to the current challenges. It may also require that you choose love every day. You've probably experienced the giddy feeling when you develop a crush or start dating someone new.
When you lose passion, you will feel demotivated to do any task and you will feel that you're in a constant mind block; you have energy but you simply can't work. Some employees also tend to act carelessly when they lose their passion; they don't even care if they got fired.
The lack of adequate communication can lead to loss of attraction. Failure to share activities – As your relationship lasts, you tend to fall into a routine and stop sharing new adventures with your partner. This lack of fresh activities can lead to you starting to lose attraction to your significant other.
The most common reasons people break up usually involve a lack of emotional intimacy, sexual incompatibility, differences in life goals, and poor communication and conflict resolution skills. There are no wrong or good reasons to break up. However, some things in a relationship are just outrightly unacceptable.
Long distances, contradicting schedules, or growing resentment are all common reasons couples lose their spark—otherwise known as chemistry or a particularly strong connection.
Even ifyou were the one who initiated the split, there are five stages ofgrief that you will go through. They are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance, according to Mental-Health-Matters. These are the natural ways for your heart to heal.
Common Signs You May Be Feeling Unhappy In Your Relationship
You look for excuses not to see your partner. You feel the urge to be with someone else. You think you would be more comfortable living a different life. You are not attracted to your partner anymore.
If you can't trust your partner in anything they do or say, or if your partner is constantly doubting you, it is a sign of an unhealthy relationship that will not last long. If you've tried and failed to trust your partner, or they are repeatedly breaking your trust, then it is a warning sign.