Rebound love is defined as the period immediately following the breakup of a romantic relationship. This period can be indefinite; who knows when it will break free. For any person, a romantic partner must have fulfilled his or her emotional and physical needs. The sudden movement away from the partner creates a void. This void creates the utmost discomfort, and we start craving more for a relationship partner that fits the definition of love that we have always fantasized about.
People deal with this discomfort in different ways. Some prefer to divert their attention to other aspects of their lives, like studies, careers, etc. Others move on, look for other partners and get into relationships. This relationship that starts shortly after the breakup of a previous relationship is called a rebound relationship. So does rebounding after a breakup work? Or are they just filling the gap in our lives after a terrible breakup and eventually fading away? In this post, we are discussing exactly that.
What are the benefits of Rebounding?
While rebound dating can be fun, it primarily is an escape mechanism to get over your ex faster and without experiencing too much pain. Getting into rebound relationships is advantageous as it helps in bouncing back into love and comfort in the following ways:
1. Finding a replacement for the previous partner to fill the void in your life. This will help keep your mind from wandering back to your ex and help you find a destination to entrust your emotions.
2. It makes you feel better because, even in a crisis like a breakup, you will have someone close to you to comfort and stand with you.
3. This may trigger the previous partner to come back to you if the previous breakup was unintentional and done in haste. This might incite your trustworthy ex-partner to get back together with you.
READ: CAN BEST FRIENDS BECOME LOVERS?
How is rebounding bad for you?
Whilst rebound love has benefits, getting into a relationship right after your breakup can also be disastrous in many ways.
1. The partner you recently broke up with is likely to be unstable. So there are chances he/she might go away if the ex comes back.
2. A rebound period is a period of highly unstable emotions. Due to the extreme emotional state, the person may not be able to commit themselves fully to the new partner. You might never be more than just a rebound to him/her.
3. Lack of a whole-hearted commitment implies being unfair to your rebound partner if you do not come out of the inertia of the previous relationship.
Now the ultimate question,
How Long Do Rebound Relationships Last?
Now that we know the pros and cons, do rebound relationships ever work out? A relationship is said to be successful only if both partners are committed. It loses its value if either of the two is thinking about any person other than the present. So, studies show that the percentage of lasting rebound relationships isn’t that high. Rebound relationships fail in most cases, citing the emotional instability of those who have had breakups in the recent past.
However, suppose the person who recently had a breakup has true feelings towards their present partner and is ready to get committed to the present partner, avoiding the inertia of the previous relationship. In that case, this relationship has a high chance of survival as well.
Rebounding Tips: Is Rebounding Healthy For You?
So, if you have had a breakup recently, observe yourself instead of jumping into another relationship immediately. Spend some time with your “solitary self”. Get to know yourself better. This will help you know better what didn’t work for you and what you should avoid in the future. Not to forget, during this phase, it is natural for any human to have high emotional instability, mood swings, craving for a partner, etc. It is, in a way, a risk to get into a relationship in such a state of mind, and you are likely to hurt the rebounding partner eventually. So slow down, connect with your close people, contemplate and then come to any decision to move ahead.
Tip for the Rebound Partner: If your potential partner is in a rebound phase, give them some time to settle their emotions and conclude. Do you think a rebound can turn into real love? Please do not rush to get into a relationship with them. If they have genuine feelings towards you, they will stick with you even after getting over the rebound period. Finally, as their friend, they help them to overcome their sorrows and support them, postponing the decision to commit to each other immediately.