This article was written by Erika Kaplan and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Erika Kaplan is a Dating Coach and Matchmaker for Three Day Rule, an exclusive matchmaking company across nine cities in the United States. With over six years of experience, Erika specializes in helping singles find quality matches through date coaching and premium matchmaking services. Erika graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. She worked for Rolling Stone, Us Weekly, and Men’s Journal before leaving publishing to pursue her passion for connecting people. Erika has been featured on Lifetime, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and CBS as well as in Thrillist, Elite Daily, Men’s Health, Fast Company, and Refinery29.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
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Finding yourself in a relationship with a new partner is so exciting. But if one of you has just had a recent breakup, there’s a potential that this is a rebound relationship, or a relationship that happens very quickly after an old one. While rebound relationships aren’t necessarily a bad thing, they do have a reputation for not lasting very long. But how long can you expect to be in a rebound relationship? And can you make them work long-term? We’ve answered all your questions and more so you can learn about your relationship and make things work with your new partner.
This article is based on an interview with our dating coach and matchmaker, Erika Kaplan. Check out the full interview here.
Things You Should Know
- Rebound relationships usually last anywhere between 1 month and 1 year.
- While rebound relationships do have the potential to work long-term, it’s important to develop a strong foundation early on so they can last.
- You may be in a rebound relationship if one of you has just had a serious breakup or you aren’t over your ex yet.
Steps
Stages of a Rebound Relationship
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The honeymoon stage When you’re first in a rebound relationship, everything is going great: you’re having fun with your new partner, you guys get along swimmingly, and you think nothing can go wrong! This will likely last for a couple of months before the rose-colored glasses slip off.[3]
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The confusion stage Next comes a little bit of concern: why doesn’t your partner take you out on real dates? Why haven’t you met their friends yet? These concerns are valid, and they often come up in a rebound relationship as things get more serious.[4]
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The realization stage One or both of you has realized that this relationship is a rebound, which isn’t awesome to hear. If you’re the rebounder, you might discover that you’re not over your ex. If you’re the rebounder, you’ve probably realized that your new partner is still hung up on their past relationship.[5]
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The make or break stage For a lot of people, after the realization stage comes a breakup. However, if you and your partner are committed to making things work and you can give them lots of time and understanding, you two might just be able to commit to each other long-term.
Expert Q&A
Tips
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If you decide to end a rebound relationship, do it respectfully and with your partner’s feelings in mind.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dating-decisions/201406/the-truth-about-rebound-relationships
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meet-catch-and-keep/201405/can-rebound-relationship-be-the-real-deal
- ↑ https://www.regain.us/advice/general/the-signs-of-a-rebound-relationship-to-watch-out-for/
- ↑ https://www.regain.us/advice/general/the-signs-of-a-rebound-relationship-to-watch-out-for/
- ↑ https://www.regain.us/advice/general/the-signs-of-a-rebound-relationship-to-watch-out-for/
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meet-catch-and-keep/201405/can-rebound-relationship-be-the-real-deal
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/meet-catch-and-keep/201405/can-rebound-relationship-be-the-real-deal
- ↑ https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-to-rebuild-after-a-break-up#2
- ↑ https://psychcrumbs.com/why-rebound-relationships-fail/