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Temporary breakups, like permanent dissolution, negatively affect emotional health.

Decreased psychological well-being stems from ambiguity and limited communication.

Lack of closure upon hitting a relational pause can prolong distress, as compared with permanent breakups.

Most adults have experienced a romantic breakup, at least once. Some breakups are decidedly final, such as dissolutions based on geographic undesirability or infidelity. Others are more ambiguous, reflecting uncertainty about the relationship's future. In the face of this dilemma, couples have to consider whether to throw in the towel or take a time out.

If you and your partner are considering taking a break instead of breaking up, ask yourselves what you are seeking to accomplish separately that you cannot work through together. After all, couples counseling is for couples, not singles. However, if a relationship is clearly not working, if one or both partners are unhappy and are not hearing wedding bells in their future, they might be better off parting company than hitting pause.

Trouble in Paradise: Hitting the Pause on Passion

Michael Langlais and Erika Elias (2025) explored the consequences of temporary breakups in a paper titled “When Love........

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