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long term after 2 or 3 years

Warhol

Space Monkey
space monkey
Joined
Apr 25, 2016
Messages
22
Hey Everyone, I posted earlier about my gf experiencing boredom after 4 years of a relationship and asking me for an open relationship. This seems to match up with Chase's article "https://www.girlschase.com/content/why-relationships-fall-apart-part-4-boredom" where he underlines that after the 2 or 3 year mark the best ways to keep the relationship going is to either have children or have an open relationship. Unfortunately, I screwed up and wasnt working on my social and seduction skills while I was in my relationship and I feel like I wouldnt be able to pull as many girls as my gf would pull guys. We would also be too young to have children. But in future relationships, if I ever hit this 2 or 3 year mark is there any way to relieve boredom without children or open relationships or are these the only possible solutions. I would like to know just for future planning and reference.

How do couples who last that long survive and how do marriages survive this long boredom without kids and how long does having kids even relieve boredom?
 

Warhol

Space Monkey
space monkey
Joined
Apr 25, 2016
Messages
22
any thoughts that you guys have? I am also so confused how to conduct relationships in the future. Ricardus says in his article about love that biochemically it reaches half life at 2 years or 2 year drop and then is gone by four years and by 7 years there can be a personality change so to stay with someone for atleast 8 years before lifelong commitment. but Also, Chase said in his article on why relationships fall apart due to boredom is that after 2-3 years the only way forward is with an open relationship or by having children. Open relationships run a huge risk of one or both partners falling in love with someone else. Children become atleast an 18 year commitment. So how can relationships exist to these long year levels anyway. How do marriages make it this long?
 

Ragnarok

Space Monkey
space monkey
Joined
Jul 17, 2016
Messages
38
Hey man, I am deeply disturbed by the whole decay of biochemical process of love as well. I fear to get married someday because I am not sure how the passion would stay. I am not sure how a relationship keeps the sexual passion for more than 3 years but i hope there is a workaround that doesnt involve other men banging your gf. I am just not sure what that would be. I just get bored easily in life and I am not sure why that is or how to move past it.
 
you miss 100% of the shots you don't take

The Tool

Tribal Elder
Tribal Elder
Joined
Nov 24, 2012
Messages
556
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangular_theory_of_love

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limerence

A little busy at the moment but I linked some quick reads. Essentially love and relationships develop and change. Especially after Limerance (which usually is the time before the 2 year mark).

Many relationships crumble because people are not able to handle a relationship after Limerance because the Warm, wanting, and sexually exciting stage is over. Many people will hop partner to partner just to be in this stage not realizing that there was never anything inherently wrong with the previous relationship in the first place. all relationships will go through and past this phase.

The true test and strength of a relationship is the ability to grow and watch each other improve. To create a legacy. Passion, love, and desire can be maintained in a long term relationship even past limerance but it will NEVER be at what it was during Limerance. I would love to get into that right now but that would be a 5+ page post. Hopefully I can cook something up later. No promises though.

Tool.
 

Ragnarok

Space Monkey
space monkey
Joined
Jul 17, 2016
Messages
38
thanks man this is super useful!!! I was wondering if you or anyone knows whether the self-expansion that Chase talks about in his relationship series is enough to restart the sexual spark even after 2 or 3 years not to its original status obviously but enough to where sex is more frequent and enjoyable? Is growth enough to stave off sexual boredom or are they two entirely different issues?
 

The Tool

Tribal Elder
Tribal Elder
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Nov 24, 2012
Messages
556
You are welcome.

Been a while since I've read that. Please link that posts of chase's I'll give it a read. And promptly respond. :)

Tool
 

The Tool

Tribal Elder
Tribal Elder
Joined
Nov 24, 2012
Messages
556
Thank you for linking that for me.

They are two ALMOST entirely different issues.
And I do have the answer. Just have to put some time aside to type.

I post this because now I am socially committed to answering the question ;)

Tool
 

Rain

Tool-Bearing Hominid
Tool-Bearing Hominid
Joined
Jun 13, 2016
Messages
534
Hey The Tool,

1. With the chemicals drop, and people chase those chemicals with new relationships even though nothing inherently wrong with old relationship, is that classified as a love addiction/romance addiction? Even if the woman looks the same, or if the guy is still, edgy like when they met... the chemicals associated with that person have gone passed the limerance/2year drop and it doesn't feel as exciting. Is that addiction something that needs fixing or is addiction just a negative shame word for a person whos having fun?

This is an example and signs of romance addiction.
https://www.loveaddictiontreatment.com/ ... addiction/

2. Can what you're saying only apply to ONE person per relationship? If the woman never feels she truly has the man, the limerance chemicals never die on her end, or if the man doesn't have that much abundance, the limerance chemicals may never die on his end... are these the chemicals you mean and the same thing with those wikipedia links you mentioned? Can these chemicals last >2years in some cases , eg oneitis as well I guess[which is tied in with love addiction but getting off topic].

3. If these chemicals die down, and you stay with the person anyway, why not skip that phase and just go with someone who doesn't give you those limerance chemicals to begin with, that way there is no 'chemical loss'? I mean I get it, I get the more chemicals is more fun, but if after 2 years they die down, and you're willing to accept that, why need them at all anyway? Maybe thats a simple view of it, you did say you can still have excitement, just not as much excitement as the initial meeting over 2 years. Would this be a case of, making a conscious decision, to ignore feelings or instant attraction for other women walking around the shops when you are in a relationship and its happy without chemicals, you have to be consciously able to ignore the possible new romantic interests you may come into your mind during the day? Eg dealing with fear of missing out something better because of the limerance chemicals with someone brand new or old limerance of a oneitis.
 

The Tool

Tribal Elder
Tribal Elder
Joined
Nov 24, 2012
Messages
556
Rain-

1. It can be. But in the majority of cases (probably 99%) it boils down to a lack of experience with relationships and or a lack of knowledge of the stages and progression of relationships. I.e again- Because the Limerance phase has passed and they are no longer "as excited as they were" they think the relationship is inherently flawed when it truly may not be.

2. In most cases science has shown that the limerance phase does not last longer than two years regardless of circumstance. And this is especially true in today's day and age with technology such as texting, skype, etc. LDR's used to have a "limerance buffer" but that is much less now than it used to be.

Limerance applies for two people whom are romantically involved regardless of circumstance. This even applies with what you described as someone having "lack of abundance, over abundance, or a woman feeling "I just don't have him yet even though I *have* him." When two people are together it inevitably becomes less of a "novelty" and "new experience" for both parties. The chemicals die as the novelty dies. This is the rule. And there are no exceptions (unless we get into psychosis which we wont).

3. Limerance/Love chemicals such as oxytocin and Vasopressin are designed to help us form attachment bonds. You can physically feel these chemicals at their strongest in cases of "Love at first sight", "The first kiss", and "The first sexual encounter". Without these initial chemicals or having these chemicals at all establishing an authentic desire for pair bonding and a lasting relationship would be and is near impossible.

Sadly when it comes to LTR's one has to accept that 100% of the time the feelings you have for one another will one day peak and then they will fall. And there is nothing either of you two can do that will bring those feelings to that peak or past where the peak was. The analogy is the same as a drug addict trying to obtain that "first high" and that no matter how much of that same drug they use they never quite reach that initial experience.

Think of it this way. If you always have a roaring burning fire. You will inevitably run out of fuel. But if you let it coast on the embers and give fuel to it bit by bit you can keep the fire burning. Maybe not as hot as it once was. but it will still provide warmth.

The Tool.

Edit****

you have to be consciously able to ignore the possible new romantic interests you may come into your mind during the day? Eg dealing with fear of missing out something better because of the limerance chemicals with someone brand new or old limerance of a oneitis.
This is something that is difficult to answer as it varies person to person. So many variables as it pertains to this that if I talk about my thoughts. It may cause an argument between MANY senior board members on here ;) (SO MANY VARIABLES). It inevitably comes down to your preference and if you are ready for an LTR. But from my personal experience. When you find that right woman, There is almost never any doubt in your mind that she is the one and you do not want to trade her for the world. (Going on 6+ years with my lady atm).

Edit***

Ragnarok if you read this. Haven't forgot about your question. Once this semester is up. Ill be smacking thee ole key board keys. :D
 

Ragnarok

Space Monkey
space monkey
Joined
Jul 17, 2016
Messages
38
hey The Tool, I was wondering if you had any more insight on keeping a relationship going after 2 or 3 years when the limerence is gone. Like how do you get the girl on the same page to want it to continue past this stage because as you said its down to inexperience? What is the girl's incentive to stick around? What does it mean for a girl to feel like she never fully has her man? How do you make your relationship work with your women of 6+ years?
 

OldGuy

Cro-Magnon Man
Cro-Magnon Man
Joined
Jun 10, 2017
Messages
203
Sex is biologically about making babies, so women have evolved to have sex with men who can get them pregnant. If after a few years she isn't pregnant (and this evolved before contraceptives, so it doesn't matter that she is on the pill and makes you use condoms, her body only knows she isn't pregnant), her body tells her to look for a man who can get her pregnant.
 

Ragnarok

Space Monkey
space monkey
Joined
Jul 17, 2016
Messages
38
OldGuy, see I get that and it makes sense to me. The point of sex and relationships is to make babies and nature doesnt want someone to waste so much time on one person if they are not getting pregnant. What I dont understand is how people make monogamy work. Some people have been together for years. Chase has written a post on how monogamy may work and has written a post on how after 3 years in a relationship the only way to fix boredom is either children or swinging. A problem for me is 3 years doesnt seem like enough time to have children with a women. Do most people marry and then have children within 3 years if they are monogamous? How do people even manage to date for so long?
 
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