Although these practices are heavily romanticized in society, they just might be poisoning your relationship. Take heed of these tips from top relationship experts.

Dating can be flat-out exhausting these days. From the pressure of endless first dates to constant task of keeping up with all the latest and greatest dating apps, it’s all-too-easy to see the appeal of getting yourself into the nearest relationship and holding onto your partner for dear life. But that definitely doesn’t mean you should. The truth is that many of us need to be single—at least temporarily.

Remember when “Netflix and chill” meant just marathoning Law & Order episodes over a few beers and pizza? It was a golden age — one where those of us with tight budgets could invite crushes over to hang out without the pressure of calling it a date (or insinuating we just wanted a hookup). If cuddling up on the couch led to more, we weren’t complaining, but it wasn’t expected. Now the phrase “Netflix and chill” is so weighted, frugal daters are forced to come up with new cheap date ideas.

When I was 20 I met my now ex-husband. I’m now 45 and divorced one year. We were together a total of  24 years before divorcing. We were best friends, but we didn’t find lasting love. The problem was that we lived conditional lives and held each other responsible for our own happiness.

I was always afraid of the squid and whale fighting,” Jesse Eisenberg’s Walt tells his therapist in The Squid and the Whale, Noah Baumbach’s semi-autobiographical tale of two brothers caught in the middle of a nasty divorce between their literary parents. “I can only look at it with my hands in front of my face.” The title of the film evokes — all at once — the famous exhibit at the Museum of Natural History, i and watching your parents argue can feel like a titanic clash between two beasts. 

Ever wonder what you’re doing wrong on dating apps? This article breaks it down.

The end of a relationship with someone isn’t easy, whether you were the one who broke things off or your partner was the one who broke up with you. Moving on can be equally difficult for some, particularly if you’re still holding on to your past relationship or things with an ex.

Having a healthy relationship is something that many aspire to obtain. Being able to share your deepest and darkest secrets with the person you love without holding back is a great feeling to have. Unfortunately, though, not everyone gets to experience that type of relationship. In some cases, the relationship that you're in can be more trouble than it's worth and more toxic than you may even realize. And that's especially the case if you're in a relationship with a controlling partner.

Sometimes you can feel like your partner is no longer attracted to you.

This can be concerning but sometimes there are other causes.

It’s important to communicate with your partner and focus on yourself.

It's no secret that relationships can be tricky, especially if it's a long-term partnership. And, when it comes to maintaining that everlasting spark between two people, things can get all the more complicated. Sometimes, we may find ourselves stuck in a routine, and, as a result, we may forget how simple gestures can go a long way in terms of love and affection. That being said, if you've noticed your partner has stopped doing common, loving gestures for you, your relationship may be at risk.

Going from "single" or "it's complicated" to "in a relationship" is a big change that affects more than a status on social media. It alters all sorts of elements in your life, including what goes down — or doesn't — in the bedroom.