SHEC: Can long-distance relationships work?

Lavinia Tofer
SHEC

A relationship requires trust, communication, honesty and patience.

A long-distance relationship requires a triple dose of all of the above.

I used to be a strong supporter of such relationships, believing that when there’s a will, there’s a way. Lately, I have been discouraged by seeing those around me fall into the unforgiving traps set out by the distance that separates partners.

Being in fourth year and not knowing where I will be in the next two years, the possibility of having to be far away from my significant other is very real. Yet I still believe long distance relationships can and do work, if both parties put in the required effort.

Usually it is the case that one person moves away while the other stays at home. This in and of itself is an extreme obstacle, and I don’t know which end I would prefer to be on. If you are close to home, you have the comfort of your friends and most likely family. That being said, it is very difficult not knowing what type of environment your significant other is in. What is his or her new life like and how can you fit in it? Being the one who is going away can be exciting and terrifying at the same time. Your only source of comfort until you make new friends will be electronic renditions of your partner, friends and family. And once you start to make new friends, how do you balance the demanding requirements of a budding friendship with those of your girlfriend or boyfriend?

Probably the most difficult aspect of long-distance relationships is the lack of physical contact with your loved one. Physical intimacy is usually an extremely important part of a loving relationship, and losing that can make you feel like you have lost a special connection.

Jealousy leads to the demise of many relationships but it is especially prevalent in long-distance relationships. Your partner will be spending a lot of time with people you do not know and when you are so far away this can be very difficult to deal with.

In order to make a long-distance relationship work it is important to first and foremost be true to yourself. Are you the type of person who requires face-to-face communication and physical contact to feel connected to someone? If so, then maybe this sort of relationship will not work for you.

Working on a long-distance relationship is hard but it is infinitely more difficult when only one person is putting in an effort. Both partners need to agree on the boundaries of the relationship, and this needs to be discussed before the separation. It is important to always try to make time for your partner and include each other in all your activities as canadian pharmacy viagra much as possible. A long distance relationship requires consistent communication between partners. In the end it is most important to be honest and trusting. If you feel that the relationship is a lot harder than you expected, share your concerns with your significant other.