”Until you get comfortable with being alone, you will never know if you are choosing someone out of love or loneliness.” Quotemaster

Although there’s no clear-cut definition, rebound relationships occur when someone fresh out of a long-term romantic relationship gets involved with someone else although they haven’t yet emotionally healed from their breakup. Breakups tend to spark negative emotions like sadness, anger, hurt, guilt, and embarrassment, which naturally make rebounds a preferable distraction in lieu of dealing with these emotions. Without self-healing, however, it can be challenging to form healthy new emotional attachments that meet your needs.

Signs of a rebound relationship

No rebound relationship is the same, but there are a number of signs that may indicate you’re in one:

• You just came out of a serious relationship
• The new relationship is moving very fast
• You think about your ex constantly
• You can’t open up emotionally to your new partner
• You don’t want to make any long-term plans with your new partner
• You primarily like your new partner because they give you attention
• You’re reluctant to introduce them to your closest friends and relatives

To figure out if you’re rebounding, it’s important to spend time reflecting on your current emotional state, wants, and desires. Ask yourself about the emotions you feel when you think about your ex. Are you still in love with them? Also, think about the reasons why your past relationship broke down. You should also think about whether you’re truly emotionally ready to get into a new relationship, as well as how much commitment you’re ready to give.

How long does a rebound relationship usually last?

Rebound relationships usually have a short shelf life as they’re typically not based on a strong foundation. Some call it ”emotional Band-Aids”. In most cases, at least one person in the relationship entered into it as a knee-jerk reaction to their previous break-up — instead of out of true feelings for the new person. Like regular relationships, rebound relationships go through several stages before they’re done. Ultimately, it’s best not to get bogged down in the stages your new relationship may be going through and overthinking how long your rebound may last — everyone’s different, after all. (Photo by Mathias P.R. Reding from Pexels)

Is a rebound relationship healthy?  

Although rebound relationships can feel good and help fill the void left by the past relationship, they’re usually (but not always) unhealthy. If you’re using your new partner to feel better about yourself, it’s best to call it off. However, if you’re truly enjoying your new partner, continue exploring the relationship to see where it goes. Alternatively, if you’ve recently had a breakup, use this time for self-reflection rather than jumping into a new relationship. Start to focus on yourself emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Figure out who you want to be in your next relationship and, ultimately, take charge of your own healing — you may even want to start seeing a therapist.

Rebound relationships are a common way to cope with breakups and the associated major feelings of loss and sadness. It’s important to know when you may be in a rebound relationship, so you can better understand if it’s really the right move for you at this current time.

Article by: Kylee Ryers

Main image: Photo by freestocks on Unsplash