Wait are we dating? | A relationship with no label

Wait, are we dating? Many people have asked themselves that question. It’s one of those moments when you like someone, but there’s confusion about the…

Wait, are we dating?

Many people have asked themselves that question. It’s one of those moments when you like someone, but there’s confusion about the status of the relationship.

Believe me when I say I’ve been there. This confusing and mind-boggling “relationship” is none other than a “situationship,” a relationship with no label. It has all the perks of a real relationship without being established.

In a situationship, you’ve usually been told by your friends that what you are doing isn’t the best thing for you, and it will only make things worse if you keep having sex. But then your friends take a second look and say, “But you’re in college, and you’re having fun.”

Pick a side, please.

If you have been a part of a situationship, you know there are red flags that go up each time you are with the person. A couple of red flags include not putting a title on the relationship, avoiding talks about the future and not spending time with each other in public.

Situationships have a beginning, middle, and end. Most of the time the beginning is full of heart-eyes, and then towards the middle, one or the other will begin to question things, but the intimacy still very much exists. And lastly, and probably most importantly, we hit the end of the situationship. During this time, most would say there are two options. The first is to walk out due to confusion of emotions and anger. And the second option is to continue what you both are doing until someone eventually leaves.

According to neuroscientist Nicole Prause, situationships are becoming more common because society is beginning to shift away from marriage and committed relationships to those without a label. Younger generations are straying away from the “headaches” of committed relationships. Prause said it best when she said, “People want to remain free of being rejected.”

I was part of a situationship not too long ago. He was my ex-boyfriend of two and half years. We still loved each other and wanted to stay connected. We usually only met up at night, we didn’t hang around our friends very often and we refrained from talking about our relationship. This was great for a few weeks because I believed we might get back together. But the harsh reality was, we were no longer in a committed relationship, and I had to make a choice.

As I stated before, I felt my only options were to be silent about how I truly felt and continue to have him in my life or walk out in anger and confusion.

Well, I did choose to step back, but I also continued to care and love him from a distance. I chose to respect myself and him by walking away. There was no hate and no regret, only respect.

Before I came to these conclusions, I would ponder and tear apart my brain for hours trying to find answers. I realized I couldn’t hold hostility toward myself, or him, because we were in it together, and forgiveness overpowers all regret.

If you’re grappling with a situationship, there will come a day when you will not be afraid of rejection, and the feelings of confusion and doubt will subside.

Having a situationship, or even a relationship, cannot fill a void or end fear. Only realizing your own power can do that.

By: Imani Thaniel

 


 

Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments, opinions on this website are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of M-Lifestyle and their affiliates. M-Lifestyle does not claim ownership of any images used, unless otherwise specified.

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Comments

  1. Victoria says:

    Finally, I got an answer to this problem of a relationship that isn’t formally a relationship. I finally have answers to a relationship that is not labeled.
    Thanks!

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