Relationships may start out full of potential, yet they tend to gradually deteriorate over time. Nevertheless, people have the tendency to continue maintaining an unhappy relationship rather than choose to break it off. But why do some couples choose to stay in a mediocre or toxic relationship instead of breaking up with each other?
Common Reasons Why Relationships May Deteriorate
There are some typical reasons why the quality of romantic relationships declines, whether immediately or over a period of time. Some relationships may eventually settle into a state of mediocrity for simple reasons:
- The initial attraction between two partners may become diminished because of overfamiliarity.
- The excitement during the early stages of a relationship could fade away if the couple falls into a predictable routine over the years.
Other relationships may possibly grow toxic and unhealthy for major reasons:
- Incompatible personalities or conflicting principles might cause constant conflicts between two parties.
- The mental health issues of one or both persons may have a negative impact on the dynamics of the relationship.
- The involvement of a third party is likely to cause a significant rift between a couple.
Typical Reasons Why Most People Tend to Continue Their Unhappy Relationship Rather Than End It
Surprisingly, many people choose to remain in a relationship instead of breaking up with their partner even if they are no longer happy about the situation, based on a report by Phys.org. Here are some of the popular reasons why people tend to stay in an unhappy relationship instead of ending it.
They Don’t Want To Give Up on Their Relationship Investment
A relationship may be personal, but it is still a real investment. Forming and maintaining a relationship requires a significant amount of time, resources, and effort from both ends. Giving up on a relationship can make one or both parties feel that their years of investment have been wasted.
According to a study by Personality and Social Psychology Review, relationship investment is one of the possible reasons why a couple may choose to stay together instead of letting each other go.
They Have a Codependent Relationship
Some couples may potentially develop codependency throughout the course of their relationship. Codependency involves two parties with dysfunctional personality characteristics that grow even worse when combined together, according to a report by Psychology Today.
It aggravates the negative mental health tendencies of each individual. It also leads to the creation of unhealthy relationship patterns that affect both persons. The enmeshment between a couple occurs when they fail to set clear boundaries within the relationship. As a result, their emotional ties are extremely difficult to sever.
Social pressure and cultural standards may have an impact on the decision of a couple to maintain their relationship, based on an academic paper published by the Iowa State University.
It’s natural for a couple to compare their own relationship to the relationships of their family, friends, and even reel-life couples in movies and television shows. Couples may be motivated to maintain their relationship stability or at least the illusion of it if they feel pressured by social and cultural norms.
They Wish To Keep Their Family Whole for Their Children’s Sake
Whether they are married or unmarried, couples have a major incentive to make extra attempts to work out the relationship if they have children together.
Children who live with their biological parents are generally well-adjusted in emotional, physical, and academic aspects, based on research information from the Linacre Q journal.
Young people are better equipped to cope with life if their parents maintain their relationships. Take note that this is only applicable if the parents do not exhibit marital violence.
Find Out if It Is Better To Continue Your Unhappy Relationship or to End It
Each romantic relationship is unique. There is no one-size-fits-all answer that can determine if it is better for a particular couple to keep trying to work out their relationship or to finally let go.
Nevertheless, here are general guidelines that may help you determine if you should continue your own relationship or end it:
- Identify if your relationship is simply stale or truly toxic. It’s still possible for you and your partner to rekindle the spark in your relationship if you have only grown overfamiliar with each other. However, it might be worth considering ending your relationship in case you have an unhealthy relationship that involves physical, verbal, or emotional abuse.
- Take the time to talk about your relationship as a couple. Find out how each of you views your relationship and one another through honest conversations.
- Consult with a professional counselor or therapist. He or she can give you an unbiased analysis and objective advice regarding your relationship.
- Read informative content to increase your knowledge regarding relationships. Bookmark our website to learn more about relationship matters.
Whether you choose to continue your relationship or to end it, dealing with your relationship and your partner in a constructive, productive way will empower you to become a better person at the end of your journey.