Love is a beautiful emotion, which often brings great joy into our lives. When we experience the feeling of deep love with someone, it can be absolutely magical. But too often, this state of bliss does not last as long as we would like. Whether or not your relationship stands the test of time becomes a whole other story. In this blog post, we’ll explore the stages that come naturally in any romantic relationship, and how they shape our journey toward love — or lack thereof — over time.
Stage 1: The euphoric phase.
The first stage of a relationship is the euphoria phase or the honeymoon period. This is the phase of freshness, intensity and first love that all couples go through when they get together for the first time. Couples in this phase experience intense joy and giddiness in the presence of their partner. Their love is passionate, and they find it difficult to detach themselves from it physically.
At this point in the relationship, people often feel like they’ve found their soul mate. Couples at this stage are oddly extremely compatible with each other. They don’t want limits and want to be together all the time. They seem to merge into one being, or at least desperately want to.
However, science now has the numbers to back it up. Studies have shown that the euphoric phase of love only lasts about two years at most. Even if it’s not long compared to an entire relationship, couples have plenty of time to enjoy these first exhilarating months of mutual infatuation and discovery of each other. It’s also important to keep in mind that even when the initial attraction wears off, relationships can stay strong if they’re based on shared goals and experiences beyond just being in love. .
Stage 2: The early attachment phase.
At this point, the most evolved part of our brain begins to take over. The ventral pallidum, the region of our brain that is linked to feelings of attachment, becomes more active. Although you’re still getting high doses of “love” hormones like oxytocin and vasopressin, the reasoning part of your brain is starting to work again.
Research has shown that this initial bonding process typically lasts between six months and two years. During this period, couples get to know each other’s behaviors, strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, and begin to form a strong bond between them. This time can be both peaceful and difficult as partners learn to trust each other and work together to maintain a long-term relationship. As difficult as it may seem at times, by recognizing the importance of the early attachment phase, couples can continue to strive and build lasting bonds with their partner.
Stage 3: The crisis phase.
The crisis phase in a romantic relationship is an inevitable part of the process and it can be difficult to manage. According to science, this phase usually lasts between two and three years. During this time, partners often face many trials and tribulations as their bonds deepen and diversify.
While some couples may emerge stronger than ever after negotiating these tough waters, science suggests that couples who stay together longer tend to value communication and problem-solving skills more. If a couple can learn how to effectively address these issues together during times of crisis, they are likely to lay the foundation for lasting happiness in the future.
Stage 4: The disillusion phase.
While many of us have experienced the powerful emotion of love, the science behind what happens when these intense feelings start to fade is perhaps less well understood. According to research, the disillusionment phase of a relationship usually lasts about two years. During this period, couples experience changes in their level of satisfaction and commitment to each other and usually come to a new status quo. It can be recommitting to each other or deciding that it’s time for both partners to move on because the relationship is no longer satisfying for one or the other.
Regardless of the outcome, it is important for couples to understand that it is normal for relationships to reach this stage and that, while it may be difficult, seeking help or coming together as a couple to talking about their dilemma can have positive results.
According to science, how do you know if a romantic relationship is lasting?
When it comes to romantic relationships, science offers interesting information: true and lasting bonds are not only based on attraction, but also on the complementarity of stress tolerance levels, coping mechanisms and decision-making styles. partners. In other words, couples who have worked hard to learn more about each other’s needs in times of distress are usually better prepared to withstand whatever life throws at them.
Also, being able to make decisions with confidence, even when the other partner’s opinion differs, says a lot about a couple’s ability to stand the test of time. All things considered, if two people have found their stride and are able to support each other through difficult times in life, while respecting each other when they disagree, that can definitely suggest a relationship worth pursuing. be kept.
