Why You Might Struggle With Relationships After Being Single For A While

It's not just break-ups that disrupt our lives

- Shivani Dubey

Change is always hard no matter what stage of life you are in; from moving cities or switching careers to learning to live through broken relationships, friendships, and everything in between. While we often talk about what it is like for people to go from being in steady, long-term relationships to suddenly adjusting to the single life, we rarely ever talk about the other side of the coin—the struggle of getting into a steady relationship and embracing emotional intimacy after being single.

There are a host of reasons someone might struggle with re-adjusting to a relationship after being single for a while. You might feel like you aren’t ready to share your space or time, experience dating app-induced FOMO if you are monogamous, or not know how to ask for what you need from your new partner. From the fear of being vulnerable to losing your autonomy and independence, allowing yourself to trust completely can be a daunting experience. We spoke to some experts to help you overcome your fears and navigate your way back into a relationship.

LOSS OF INDEPENDENCE

Tania*, a 27-year-old PR representative, is all too familiar with the feeling of having lost her independence. She recently got into a relationship after being single her entire life, and adjusting to having someone else in her life has been difficult, but the compromise, she says, has been worth it. “It has been hard to accept that I can no longer be selfish, and I have to take his feelings and what he wants to do into consideration as well. It sounds so bad, but I was so used to doing what I wanted when I wanted and now, I have another person that I have to think about.”