Two years ago, I was in a relationship with a person from a different town. We started as friends and later on decided to date. There were concerns about the distance between us and if the relationship would work out. However, we ignored the fear and continued the relationship despite the fact that there were issues that would hinder a smooth progression. The break up confirmed my fears since we had not dated for more than five months when we decided to end the relationship. Numerous problems led to the numerous decisions. Communication was great from the start; we messaged regularly, had phone calls every evening, and sometimes communicated through Skype and Snapchat. We scheduled dates occasionally where we would catch up on each other's lives and watch movies together. Conversely, life got in the way, communication reduced, and eventually, we would not talk for four to five days in a row. After communication reduced, trust and uncertainty took the wheel in the relationship. We both found ourselves doubting each other even for simple issues like close friends of the opposite sex. At some point, I felt like maybe if we both lived in the same town, our relationship would still be strong. Doubts would not crop up since we would both know each other's friends and it would be easy to communicate.
What are the effects of long-distance relationships?
Long distance relationships are hard to keep and maintain since they require a lot of effort, communication, and trust. Most people in long-distance relationships are independent and do not depend on each other for gratification. People have their own circle of friends, work, and weekend events. Thus, it becomes hard to create time for the other person who is not physically present. In most cases, relationships break because people do not make the extra sacrifice to make time for their partners.
The cause of many breakups is the distance and communication. When communication stops, it leads to negative effects. First, lack of communication leads to doubt and loss of trust in the relationship and the partner. Each partner will believe that their partners do not make time for them because they have other important people in their lives. Second, lack of trust leads to arguments about life and activities each person does. Regular arguments weaken the foundation of any relationship. Many people would rather quit a relationship than be stuck in continuous misunderstandings in a relationship for peace of mind. Anxiety is another effect of the lack of communication and distance. It is common for individuals to develop anxiety in a long-distance relationship, which leads to stress and depression. Most people will spend most of their time wondering what their partners are doing each moment. For others, stalking their partners on social media sites and jumping to negative conclusions about situations become a habit. Reduced communication reduces the level of commitment two people have on their relationship. When a person is not committed to their relationship, temptations easily sweep them off their feet, leading to cheating or falling out of love with their initial partner. A long-distance relationship depends on communication to thrive. Once communication reduces or stops, many problems thrive that end the relationship.
