http://www.hiptipsdating.com/relationship/s/long-distance/ Long distance relationships: Can long distance relationships work? en-us Fri, 18 Nov 2005 16:55:03 EST Fri, 18 Nov 2005 16:55:03 EST Weblog Editor 2.0 Long distance relationships do not necessarily have to be with boyfriends and girlfriends, you may be living away from relatives and friends. Being away from loved ones is hard. People are increasingly moving away for a variety of reasons and are forced to maintain communication through e-mail, the phone and occasional visits. Can long distance relationships survive? People deal with long distance relationships differently. If you have grown up in a fragmented family, you may be more apt to dealing with long distance relationships. As a child you may have gotten used to not seeing some family members and friends for periods of time and learned to deal with that separation accordingly. If, on the other hand, you come from a very close knit family, who are very dependent on one another, being away from loved ones may be very hard to cope with. Long distance relationships between friends and family members do usually survive in tact. You do of course lose some of the closeness but if you have formed strong bonds and relationships, chances are those relationships will survive well. Romantic long distance relationships however often don't fair so well. How to make a long distance relationship work It can be done, honest! There are plenty of relationships that survive long periods of time apart. If you are in a relatively new relationship you may not feel confident about your relationship lasting. New relationships: If you are in a new relationship you should have a fairly open and relaxed attitude to your relationship. Don't have high expectations and don't make too many demands on your partner. You should try to stay in contact over the phone and through e-mail and try to visit each other as much as you can. Only time will tell over whether your relationship will survive and grow stronger or weaker. As with all types of relationships, you cannot monitor your partner's every move so don't let the jealousy monster rear it's ugly head. Take things slowly and as they come and try not to get frustrated and give up quickly if you feel that your relationship is not really progressing. Established relationships: If you are in an established relationship, chances are you'll know how well your relationship will fair. You should make sure that you maintain plenty of contact with your partner. Try to think of ways you can surprise him or her with gifts, cards and maybe even a surprise visit. You may feel that your relationship has come to a standstill, especially initially. You will go through a period of adjustment and the dynamics of your relationship will obviously change. Be patient and take things as they come. Don't give up easily! If you are meant to be together you will get through the separation and your relationship will be stronger as a result. So if you do ever find yourself thrust into a long distance relationship don't panic or be too down hearted. Give it a try and look for the positives! Fri, 18 Nov 2005 16:55:03 EST