Science says: after this many years, most couples break up
Have you ever heard of the ‘seven year itch’? It’s the phenomenon where many relationships falter around the seventh year. The feeling of happiness and joy diminishes, and the chance of a couple breaking up around this time is significant. Although this pattern occurs often, relationship therapist Kim Polinder says there are more moments when couples throw in the towel faster. Are you on your way to one of the following phases in your relationship? Then pay extra attention.
Year 2 and 3
Couples who cannot communicate well often break up around the second or third year of their relationship. The initial infatuation has faded by this point, and issues that you have always been dealing with but never expressed come to the surface. All these pent-up emotions often lead to conflicts that are difficult to resolve.
Year 7
Here it is, the seven year itch. Around the seventh year of your relationship, it may be that things stagnate between you. You both wonder if you are growing apart more than coming together and whether perhaps it would be better for both of you to take a different path. Good communication and rediscovering your passion for each other can help you through this.
Year 11 or 12
If you ignore the stagnation of year seven and do not express your feelings, your bond will definitely weaken, resulting in a breakup. If you take this seriously and are able to get through this together, it is a sign of a very strong relationship.
Year 15
Couples who break up in year 15 often forget that they were once friends. They live completely past each other and seem more like housemates than people in an intimate relationship. These couples actually do not talk enough with each other and continue to bottle up their emotions. Instead of allowing a conflict to arise or discussing important matters, they detach from difficult situations, resulting in their relationship ultimately having little substance. The result? You guessed it: an inevitable breakup.
Sources: Very Well Mind, Engineering Love Podcast by Kim Polinder
